Dr. Uchenna Umeh, also know as Dr. Lulu, spent the early part of her career in a traditional pediatric practice. When she decided she needed a change of pace, she enlisted in the Air Force. She completed her time there, and entered traditional practice. But she was struck by the extent of the mental health issues in her patients and experienced a harsh wake-up call: a young patient of hers attempted suicide.
Several colleagues and a relative of hers also attempted to end their lives. She was moved by the experiences and felt she was being called to a higher purpose. After seeing the positive response she received when speaking on the topic at her son’s school, she left “penicillin pediatrics” behind and focused her efforts on helping troubled teens.
She honed her message, and started speaking regularly on the topics of bullying, depression and mental health issues in children and teens. Using telemedicine to make ends meet between speaking engagements, Uchenna realized that she also wanted help individual patients, so she opened her direct primary care practice specifically for struggling teenagers.
You can find her story, the she gives to physicians considering a nontraditional career, and links to her books and other resorces in the show notes at nonclinicalphysicians.com/episode139
