How Women of Color in Medicine Navigate Representation Pressure

Leadership in medicine rarely comes with a manual for what happens outside the clinic. In this segment of the most recent episode of The Medical Sisterhood, Tiffany Mayo, MD, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who will soon join UT Southwestern in Dallas, joined host Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, to discuss 2 of those unspoken challenges: protecting personal boundaries and navigating what it means to represent more than yourself.

Shahriari and Mayo discussed how expectations around availability have shifted in medical education, with mentees increasingly expecting immediate responses regardless of personal or professional demands on a mentor's time. Mayo said she has learned to communicate response-time expectations clearly to trainees, recognizing that other people's sense of urgency does not have to become her own. She said failing to set these boundaries can compromise a mentor's ability to meet their own professional goals while supporting others.

Does Representation Pressure Feel Different for Women of Color in Medicine?

Shahriari asked Mayo whether pressure to conform feels heightened for women of color, given concerns about losing standing in professional spaces. Mayo said that pressure is real, since women of color in medicine often feel they represent broader communities and organizations rather than only themselves. She said she has come to view her presence in leadership spaces as an opportunity to contribute a distinct perspective rather than default to agreement, citing dermatologist Steve Daveluy, MD, whose own textured hair experience shapes how he approaches patients with similarly textured hair, as an example of how lived experience adds irreplaceable value.

How Does Authenticity Intersect With Professional Expectations?

Mayo also reflected on adapting her appearance, including straightening her hair for residency interviews, to align with perceptions of professionalism at the time. She said such adjustments do not necessarily compromise authenticity, but reflect cultural norms placed on those outside a profession's dominant group. Mayo said that while some adaptation may occur, staying true to one's core values and voice once seated at the table remains non-negotiable.

Editor’s note: Neither speaker had any relevant disclosures of note. This episode was summarized with the help of AI tools.

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References

1. Shahriari M, Mayo T. The Medical Sisterhood: The Pressure of Representation, With Tiffany Mayo, MD. HCPLive. August 13, 2026. Accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.hcplive.com/view/medical-sisterhood-pressure-representation-tiffany-mayo-md.