>>> WELCOME TO "LIFE ESTEEM" A
PROGRAM COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING INFORMATION THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO YOU AND TO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "LIFE
ESTEEM."
ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE YOU
HERE.
WE WILL TALK TO AN
ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND
MINDFULNESS TEACHER.
SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON THE
SHOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE AT A
CONFERENCE --
>> YES AT A BLACK HISTORY
EVENT.
>> YES AND YOU WERE THE KEY
KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
>> YES, THEY ASKED ME TO COME
AND TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH
PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND
WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THEM.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT MY
TALK WAS ABOUT.
WE SPOKE AFTERWARDS AND WE
SAID THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT
YOU HAVE TO COME ON AND TALK
TO PEOPLE ABOUT.
>> AND ALSO TOO A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW SHE IS
ORIGINALLY FROM HARRISBURG.
TALK ABOUT YOUR BEGINNINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO I GREW UP IN HARRISBURG IN
HOUSING PROJECTS.
MY MOTHER AND FATHER DIVORCED,
AND THEN MY MOTHER RAISED ME
AND FOUR SIBLINGS, AND WE WERE
THERE IN HALL MANOR.
I WANTED TO BE SUFFICIENT
EARLY ON.
PART OF MY MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKING, I BECAME PREGNANT AT
16 AND I HAD FOUR MORE
DAUGHTERS.
I HAD FIVE CHILDREN AND
REALIZED I COULD NOT BE A
DOCTOR.
THAT WAS OUT.
I WENT ON TO BECOME A NURSE.
I WAS MARRIED AND DIVORCED AND
I DECIDED TO GO FOR MY
ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN NURSING
AND WENT TO HARRISBURG
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND
THANKFULLY THAT WAS THERE
BECAUSE IT HELPED ME GET MY
START.
I GOT A DEGREE IN NURSING AND
AS I WAS WORKING FOR MY
BACHELOR'S IN NURSING, EXCUSE
ME, I DECIDED I STILL WANTED
TO BE A DOCTOR.
I WENT ON TO COMPLETE THE
PREREQ HUA -- PREREQUISITES
AND GOT ACCEPTED TO YALE FOR
MEDICINE AND THEN WENT ON TO
ONE OF HARVARD'S PROGRAMS.
>> FANTASTIC.
I AM GOING TO PICK UP THE --
>> FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO PUT
THAT.
>> I THOUGHT THE BATTERY CAME
OUT.
>>> WELCOME TO "LIFE ESTEEM" A
PROGRAM COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING INFORMATION THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO YOU AND TO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
>> HELLO AND WELCOME AGAIN TO
"LIFE ESTEEM."
ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU AS A
VIEWER AND TODAY WE WILL TALK
WITH DR. KAREN PRIESTER.
SHE IS AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND
DOCTOR AND MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER AND A MINDFULNESS
TEACHER.
SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON THE
SHOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE PART OF A
BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM WHERE
YOU WERE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
>> YES.
I SPOKE IN FEBRUARY AT THE
EASTERN STARS BLACK HISTORY
PROGRAM WHERE THEY ASKED ME TO
COME AND TALK ABOUT THE
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ILLNESSES
IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO
ABOUT THESE DISEASES.
>> ALSO SHE IS LOCAL TO THIS
COMMUNITY.
TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GREW UP
IN HARRISBURG.
>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE
IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
I GREW UP IN THE HALL MANOR
HOUSING PROJECTS.
I GOT MY EARLY EDUCATION IN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I AM A PROUD COUGAR.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A
PHYSICIAN.
I GOT PREGNANT THOUGH AT 16,
AND SO MY OLDEST NOW IS GOING
TO BE 40.
GOING TO BE 40 NEXT MONTH.
40 YEARS AGO YOU DIDN'T JUST
GO OFF TO COLLEGE.
I ENDED UP WORKING AND GETTING
MARRIED AND HAD FOUR MORE
CHILDREN.
AND THEN THAT MARRIAGE
DISSOLVED, BUT I STILL HAD THE
DESIRE TO GO TO COLLEGE.
I WENT TO HARRISBURG AREA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GOT MY
DEGREE IN NURSING BECAUSE I
THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LATE TO BE
A DOCTOR.
NO WAY A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE
COULD BE A DOCTOR.
AS I STARTED WORKING IN THE
MEDICAL FIELD ALONGSIDE THE
PHYSICIANS I REALIZED THAT
REALLY WAS MY PASSION.
I WENT ON AND GOT MY
BACHELOR'S FROM YORK COLLEGE
OF PENNSYLVANIA AND DID MY
PREREQ HUA IT ISES AND I WAS
ACCEPTED TO SEVERAL MED
SCHOOLS AND CHOICE YALE SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE AND WENT ON TO AN
ANESTHESIOLOGY PROGRAM.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
YOU WENT TO YALE AND HARVARD.
>> I TELL PEOPLE I THOUGHT
YALE WAS A FLUKE SO I DECIDED
TO TRY TO GET INTO HARVARD.
>> GOOD STUFF.
ECONOMIC STATUS HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH --
>> ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT MY
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING IS
ABOUT.
IT IS LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU
START OR WHAT OBSTACLES YOU
HAVE AGAINST YOU.
YOU CAN SET A GOAL AND STILL
ACHIEVE THEM.
I THINK I HIT EVERYTHING ON
THAT -- I CHECKED EVERY BOX OF
THINGS THAT WOULD SAY I WASN'T
GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.
I CAME FROM A BROKEN HOME.
I WAS THE PRODUCT OF A BROKEN
HOME.
I WAS RAISED IN THE PROJECTS
AND WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I HAD MY FIRST CHILD AT 16.
I WAS A TEENAGE MOTHER.
I WAS THEN DIVORCED AND
RAISING CHILDREN.
EVERYTHING SAID I WAS NOT
SUPPOSED TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
AND THEN TO FIND MYSELF EVERY
DAY EXCITED AND GO TO WORK AND
I GET TO SHAKE MY PATIENT'S
HAND AND SAY GOOD MORNING, I
AM DR. PRIESTER AND I WILL BE
YOUR ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT.
>> YOU ARE UP IN ALLENTOWN
CURRENTLY, RIGHT?
>> YES, I WORK AT LEHIGH
VALLEY HOSPITAL IN ALLENTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA.
YOU SEE IT ON THE HIGHWAY.
>> IT NEVER ENDS.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK.
TALK ABOUT MINDFULNESS FOR A
MINUTE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AS
FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
>> YEAH, SO MINDFULNESS IS
ANOTHER TERM FOR A WAY TO
MEDITATE.
MINDFULNESS -- A LOT OF
MINDFULNESS IN THE UNITED
STATES WAS ACTUALLY STARTED
AND POPULAR RISED BY JOHN
CABOT AT UMASS MEDICAL
SCHOOL.
THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE
BEHIND RELIEVING STRESS AND
COMBATING THE EFFECTS OF SOME
ILLNESSES BROUGHT ON BY
STRESS.
SO I TEACH A LOT AND WE NEED
TO EMBRACE THIS A LITTLE MORE
IN OUR CULTURE AND IT SEEMS A
LITTLE FOREIGN TO US, BUT IT
IS REALLY JUST A WAY OF
SITTING DOWN AND GETTING QUIET
WITH YOURSELF.
IT IS PAYING ATTENTION AS WE
SAID IN A PARTICULAR WAY
WITHOUT JUDGMENT.
IT IS JUST SITTING WITH
YOURSELF AND TAKING TIME TO
JUST TAKE IN ALL OF YOUR
ENVIRONMENT AND NOT PUT SO
MUCH ATTENTION ON THE THOUGHTS
THAT WE HAVE COMING THROUGH
OUR HEAD.
ONCE YOU WATCH THE THOUGHTS GO
PAST WE REALIZE HOW MUCH OUR
THOUGHTS AREN'T REALLY US.
WE SIT THERE AND WATCH THEM
PASS AND THEY JUST PASS.
WE WANT TO -- WE GET A THOUGHT
AND WE WANT TO ATTACH AN
EMOTION TO IT AND MAKE IT
PERMANENT AND MAKE IT PART OF
US.
LIKE ANYTHING ELSE GOING BY WE
REALIZE THAT LIFE IS TEMPORARY
AND SO ARE OUR THOUGHTS AND SO
ARE OUR CONDITIONS.
WE CAN SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT
AND NOT BE IN THIS CONSTANT
FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE THAT LIFE
PUTS US IN RIGHT NOW.
OUR BODIES ARE VERY SMART IN
ADAPTING TO ENVIRONMENT AND
KEEPING US SAFE.
IT RECOGNIZES STRESS AND
STRESSORS AND DANGERS BEFORE
WE RECOGNIZE IT.
WHAT USED TO BE VERY HELPFUL
WHEN WE NEEDED TO HAVE SHARP
REFLEXES, YOU KNOW THERE IS A
RUSTLE IN THE BUSH.
IS THAT A SABRE TOOTH TIGER?
WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.
WE HAVE TO RUN OR BE PREPARED
TO FIGHT.
THOSE SAME HORMONES AND STRESS
HORMONES ARE STIRRED UP IN
EVERYDAY LIFE AND THAT'S NOT
VERY ADAPTIVE TO US.
WHETHER IT IS SOMEBODY CUTTING
US OFF IN TRAFFIC AND WHETHER
OUR BOSS CALLED US INTO THE
ROOM, THOSE THINGS STAY
CHURNED UP.
BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO
FIGHT OR RUN FROM, IT STAYS
CHURNED UP BECAUSE WE DON'T
RECOGNIZE THAT IS GOING ON.
YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THE CERTAIN
STATES OF WHEN YOU ARE GETTING
WORKED UP AND HOW TO BRING
YOURSELF BACK DOWN.
>> PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION HOW STRESS
AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY AND
MENTALLY.
>> PHYSICALLY.
>> AND IF PEOPLE DON'T ADDRESS
THAT IN SOMEWAY AND HAVE A WAY
OF WORKING THROUGH THAT AND
THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOW WITH
MEDITATION AND MINDFUL --
MINDFULNESS.
>> IT HELPS US LIVELONGER AND
IT HELPS US IN STUDIES AND IT
LOOKS AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL
HOW MEDITATION HELPS.
I HAVE A PERSONAL STORY ON WHY
I WENT ON TO BECOME A
HINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR -- A
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR.
SHORTLY AFTER I FINISHED MED
SCHOOL AND I FINISHED THE
RESIDENCY I BECAME ILL
MYSELF.
I NEEDED TO TAKE TIME OFF WITH
MY ILLNESS.
IT IS A RARE DISEASE SO NOT
MANY PEOPLE KNEW HOW TO TREAT
IT.
IT TOOK AWHILE AND I WAS
GETTING FRUSTRATED.
I WORKED SO HARD AS I TOLD YOU
TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN.
THE STRESS EVERY DAY OF WAKING
UP AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW I WAS GOING TO BEAT THE
DISEASE AND HOW I WAS GOING TO
GET BACK TO WORK AND GET BACK
TO DOING WHAT I LOVE ALL DAY
LONG WAS CHURNING IN ME.
MUNN TOLD ME ABOUT A
MINDFULNESS CLASS.
I WENT THERE AND WITHOUT ANY
OTHER CHANGE, WITHOUT A CHANGE
IN MEDICINE AND WITHOUT A
CHANGE IN ANY OF -- A CHANGE
IN ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON MY
DISEASE GOT BETTER JUST FROM
MINDFULNESS AND JUST FROM ME
LEARNING THAT I DON'T HAVE TO
GET UP EVERY DAY AND STRESS
OVER THIS.
I CAN LET IT GO.
I CAN JUST ALLOW MYSELF TO
HEAL AND MY BODY TO HEAL
HELPED.
I EVENTUALLY DID GET TREATMENT
THAT ALLOWED ME TO GET BACK TO
WORK, BUT I WAS ALLOWED TO SEE
MY OWN BODY IN MINDFULNESS AND
MEDITATION AND HELPING YOUR
BODY TO DO WHAT IT KNOWS HOW
TO DO.
>> WE HAVE AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO
IS DEALING WITH CANCER.
IT IS REALLY BAD AND SHE HAS
THE BED AND ALL OF THAT.
I REMEMBER WALKED -- WALKING
IN AND HER WHOLE DEMEANOR AND
SHE WAS DEFEATED.
I SAID ARE YOU OKAY?
SHE SAID I'M FINE.
I ASKED IF SHE WAS SEEING ANY
KIND OF COUNSELOR AND THEN YOU
STARTED TALKING AND SHE TALKED
ABOUT SHE NEEDED TO FIND A
BENCH TO LET GO OF THINGS.
I IMAGINE MINDFULNESS WOULD BE
GOOD FOR HER AND PEOPLE LIKE
HER.
PEOPLE ARE NEVER GIVEN -- THEY
DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING
ABOUT IT.
>> THEY DON'T.
>> I AM LOOKING AT HER.
>> AND THAT'S HOW SOME OF THIS
CAME OUT, THE STUDIES CAME OUT
OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
WITH THIS PROGRAM IT STARTED
BECAUSE IT WAS HELPING PEOPLE
DEAL WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS AND
PAIN.
AGAIN, SHE WOULD BE SOMEBODY
THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM
LEARNING THE TECHNIQUES BEHIND
MINDFULNESS AND LEARNING TO
ACCEPT THINGS AS THEY ARE AND
WITHOUT WANTING TO CHANGE THEM.
EVEN PAIN OR THE STRESSES OF
LIFE, BUT FOR THIS FEW MINUTES
I WILL ALLOW IT TO BE.
>> ALLOW IT TO BE.
>> JUST ALLOW IT TO BE.
>> WE ALWAYS SAY A SERENITY
PRAYER, BUT DO WE PRACTICE
IT?
>> RIGHT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE MORE
AWARE OF YOURSELF WITH MINUTE
BY MINUTE AWARENESS AND THE
MORE YOU PRACTICE AND THE MORE
YOU ARE AWARE DURING THE DAY
SO THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THINGS
THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T PAY
ATTENTION TO.
I RECOGNIZE THE SOUND OF THE
BIRDS WHEN I AM WALKING TO
WOUK.
I -- WALKING TO WORK.
I GO TO THE CHAPEL EVERY
MORNING BEFORE I SEE A
PATIENT.
I GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND SIT
THERE AND DO MY MORNING
MEDITATION IN THE CHAPEL AT
THE HOSPITAL.
THEN I LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND
THAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT TO
THAT HOSPITAL.
I SIT AND MEDITATE AND LISTEN
TO THE SOUNDS.
AT 6:00 A.M. I LISTEN TO THE
SOUNDS OF THE HOSPITAL COMING
ALIVE.
I SAY WHAT IS CALLED A
KINDNESS -- A LOVING, KINDNESS
MEDITATION FOR MY PATIENTS.
MAY THEY BE WELL.
MAY THEY BE HAPPY.
MAY THEY BE SAFE AND FREE OF
HARM AND DANGER.
I STARTED MY DAY WITH A
DIFFERENT MIND -- MIND-SET
BEFORE I TALK TO MY FIRST
PATIENT.
>> I DO TRAINING THROUGH MY
WIFE'S COMPANY.
IT IS CALLED LIFE ESTEEM
MINISTRIES.
AND WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH
UTNT PINNACLE FOR THE
VOLUNTEER CHAPLAINS.
MAN, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU
COME IN AND TALK TO THEM.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO COME.
>> YEAH, WOW.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO DO A
SESSION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS SO NEEDED TO MAKE SURE
THEIR PRESENCE AND ALL OF THE
DISTRACTIONS.
>> THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT
THEY ARE BRINGING INTO THAT
ROOM AND ANY STRESS THAT THEY
NEED TO DEAL WITH AND
SOMETIMES IT IS RECOGNIZING IN
OURSELVES WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU RECOGNIZE THE EMOTIONS AND
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IN YOUR
BODY WITHOUT YOUR MIND TELLING
YOU.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IN
MY BODY TO BE ANXIOUS.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO
BE ANGRY.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO
BE SAD IN MY BODY.
TO THE POINT I WAS IN A
SITUATION WHERE I THOUGHT I
WAS GOING TO BE ANGRY, BUT AS
I SAT THERE, I RECOGNIZED,
WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT'S NOT ANGER IN MY BODY
RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S FEAR.
THAT'S WHAT FEAR FEELS LIKE IN
MY BODY.
AND THEN IT ALLOWED ME TO ASK
MYSELF WHY ARE YOU AFRAID IN
THIS SITUATION?
AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO RESPOND
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
IT WASN'T FROM UP HERE WHAT I
THOUGHT I WOULD FEEL IN THAT
SITUATION.
WHAT ARE YOU FEELING AND WHY
ARE YOU FEELING THAT WAY?
THAT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE I
SIT WITH MYSELF AND I KNOW
WHEN I AM ANGRY, I KNOW WHAT
IT FEELS LIKE.
I CAN SAY OKAY WHAT IS GOING
ON RIGHT NOW?
WHEN I AM SAD AND WHEN I AM
AFRAID.
>> I HAVE READ AN ARTICLE ON
THE TOOLS AND HOW IT HAS
BEEN -- INSTEAD OF HAVING
CHILDREN AND ARE SUSPENDED
FROM SCHOOL FOR CERTAIN
BEHAVIORS AND THEY HAVE THEM
GO INTO MEDITATION AND DO
MINDFULNESS AND TO DO ALL OF
THAT.
AND HOW MUCH SUCCESS THEY HAVE
HAD AND HAVING THE HOSPITAL
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
>> CAN YOU IMAGINE CHILDREN
WHO ARE MORE AWARE OF WHY THEY
ARE ACTING IN A CERTAIN WAY
AND ADULTS AROUND THEM WHO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CHILD IS
ACTING THIS WAY BECAUSE OF AND
MAYBE PUNISHMENT ISN'T THE
ANSWER.
MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
WITH THIS CHILD.
>> AND WE KNOW WRITING CAN BE
EXTREMELY THERAPEUTIC.
YOU ARE AN AUTHOR SO WHAT
MATTERS DO YOU WRITE ABOUT?
>> MAINLY ON MY LIFE.
IT IS AUTO BY GRAPHICAL.
BUT THERE ARE ARTICLES ON
BLACK WOMEN IN MEDICINE AND
THERE ARE THOSE TYPES OF
ENDEAVORS AS WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK
PUBLISHED?
>> IT SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY OUT
THE END OF THE YEAR.
STILL WORKING ON FINISHING
THAT ONE UP.
MAYBE I WILL COME BACK FOR
THAT.
>> SO IT IS GOING TO BE AN
AUTO-BIOGRAPHY, YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.
>> OH MY GOODNESS, YEAH.
WHEN I WENT TO MEDICINE I
THOUGHT I WOULD DO INTERNAL
MEDICINE OR BE A FAMILY
PHYSICIAN.
BUT I GUESS I FELL IN LOVE
WITH ANESTHESIA.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE AS WELL,
THEY ARE SIMILAR FIELDS.
I LIKE THE IDEA THAT EVERY DAY
WHEN I GO TO WORK I MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.
EVERY DAY WHEN I WALK OUT OF
THERE I HAVE A SENSE OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND SOMETIMES YOU DIDN'T GET
THAT -- YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET
THAT IN FAMILY PRACTICE.
YOU SEE A PATIENT AND YOU ARE
SETTING UP A TEST OR FOLLOWING
UP ON THINGS, BUT EVERY DAY I
MEET SOMEONE AND I HAVE A
CHALLENGE OF GETTING THEM TO
CHOOSE THEIR SURGEON.
THEY HAVE HAD LONG
DISCUSSIONS, BUT THEY SHOW UP
AND THEY NEVER MET ME AND THEY
DON'T GET TO PICK ME.
HAVE I A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT
I AM THERE TO MAKE SURE YOU
WILL GET THROUGH THIS
PROCEDURE SAFELY AND
COMFORTABLY.
AND SO I LIKE THAT CHALLENGE
OF MEETING SEVERAL PEOPLE A
DAY.
AND GETTING THEM THROUGH A
PROCEDURE AND THEN SEEING THEM
ON THE OTHER SIDE HAPPY AND
WHEN THEY MAY HAVE COME IN
REALLY STRESSED AND THEY SAY
LOOK THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN AND THIS IS WHAT I WILL
DO TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND SEEING
THEM IN THE RECOVERY ROOM AND
TO SEE THEY HAD A PLEASANT
EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS BEING IN
LABOR AND DELIVERY.
MOMS ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE YOU
COME.
THERE IS THE PAIN OF THAT AND
THERE IS THE CHRONIC PAIN.
THERE IS A PLACE FOR MEDICINE
AND CON NECK PAIN AS WELL.
 CHRONIC PAIN AS WELL SO
WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
>> I NEVER HAD A MAJOR
SURGERY, BUT I HAD A COLON
NOSE ASK YOU PEA AND TO ME
THAT'S MAJOR SURGERY.
>> TO SOME PEOPLE THAT'S THE
ONLY TIME THEY GO UNDER
ANESTHESIA.
>> THAT ANESTHESIOLOGIST HAS
TO REALLY GET YOU INTO THE
MIND-SET AND CALM YOU DOWN.
THAT IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED.
>> AND I LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE
DEALING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE COMING IN WITH THEIR
OWN HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT NEED
TO STAY ON TOP OF THE HEALTH
PROBLEMS.
I CAN'T JUST FOCUS IN ON WHAT
THE SURGEON IS LOOKING AT.
I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE
BODY AND EVERYTHING GOING ON
WITH THAT PATIENT TO DETERMINE
WHAT WILL BE THE BEST
ANESTHETIC FOR THEM AND WHAT
IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THIS
PERSON THAT COMES IN WITH ALL
OF THEIR VARIOUS ILLNESSES,
HEART DISEASE ORCHID KNEE
DISEASE OR WHATEVER IT IS AND
GET THEM SAFELY THROUGH WHAT
IS THE PROPER ANESTHETIC FOR
THEM.
>> -- YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS.
>> YES.
FOUR DAUGHTERS AND ONE SON.
>> AND I THINK THAT -- I
ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I THINK
WHAT HAPPENED IS THEY WERE TOO
OLD AND THEY SAW TOO MUCH.
IT IS HARD GETTING THROUGH
RESIDENCY AND ALL OF THE HOURS
AND THE PAIN AND THE SWEAT AND
THE TEARS, AND THEY WANTED
NONE OF THAT.
I THINK THEY HAVE TO BE
LITTLE.
MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES THEIR
CHILDREN ARE SMALL SO THEY
DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THEIR
PARENTS WERE DOING THE 30-HOUR
SHIFTS.
>> I WORKED IN HOSPICE FOR
ABOUT TWO YEARS, PINNACLE
HEALTH HOSPICE SO I WAS A
CHAPLAIN AND I GOT A CHANCE TO
SEE THE NURSES IN PARTICULAR.
BEING A NURSE THESE DAYS IS NO
LIGHT WEIGHT.
>> IT IS NOT.
TRULY IT IS NOT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL I STARTED OUT
AS A NURSE.
I WORKED AS A NURSE FOR NINE
YEARS BEFORE BECOMING A
PHYSICIAN.
I THINK IT ALLOWED ME TO BRING
THAT ASPECT TO MY PATIENTS.
AND SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF
MY BIGGEST BENEFITS AND I
RECOGNIZE THE STRESS THAT
NURSES ARE UNDER IN CARING FOR
THE PATIENTS ALL DAY LONG
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SHIFT
WHEREAS PHYSICIANS WE MAY POP
IN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, BUT WE
REALLY RELY ON WHAT THE NURSES
HAVE OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THEIR
ENTIRE SHIFT TO HELP US MAKE
OUR DECISIONS ON TREATMENT.
>> TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
YOU HAVE A NURSE AND A
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
>> WITH THE CURRENT HEALTH
CARE WE NEED PHYSICIAN
EXTENDERS.
A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AND A
NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE OTHER
FIELDS WHERE PEOPLE -- IT IS
NOT JUST THE PHYSICIAN THAT IS
IN CHARGE.
SO IN MOST STATES THE NURSE
PRACTITIONER AND THE PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS WORK UNDER A
PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY ALSO SEE
THEIR OWN PATIENTS.
THEY ARE WORKING UNDER A
PHYSICIAN WHO IS ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PATIENT,
BUT THAT ALLOWS THAT OFFICE,
THAT PRACTICE TO SEE MORE
PEOPLE AND TO TAKE CARE OF
THEM.
THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING.
>> I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE TO
HAVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING.
>> THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE
TRAINING, NURSE PRACTITIONERS
AND PHYSICIAN UH SIS --
ASSISTANTS.
>> I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING
COMING UP I HEARD OF IN RECENT
YEARS AND THEY SAY NURSE
PRACTITIONER OR A DOCTOR'S
ASSISTANT, A PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT.
THAT'S WHY I ASK.
>> AND THEY SPECIALIZE IN
DIFFERENT AREAS AS WELL.
SOME OF THEM WILL DO SURGERY
AND SOME DO PEDIATRICS.
THEY CAN ALSO SPECIALIZE.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING.
I WANT TO MENTION THE FACT
THAT YOU STARTED YOUR
EDUCATION RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
YOU WENT TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND YOU WENT TO ANOTHER
SCHOOL.
>> I WENT TO HARRISBURG HIGH
SCHOOL.
>> HARRISBURG HIGH SCHOOL AND
HARRISBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND YORK COLLEGE.
YOU GOT A QUALITY EDUCATION.
>> I DID.
A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT
ALLOWED ME TO COMPETE WITH
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I APPLIED TO SEVERAL MEDICAL
SCHOOLS AND I GOT INTO SIX.
I GOT INTO SIX MEDICAL SCHOOLS
AND ALL OF THAT FROM GROWING
UPRIGHT HERE IN HARRISBURG AND
GOING THROUGH THE HARRISBURG
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GOING
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES.
THOSE WERE MY FOUNDATIONS.
I LOVED SPEAKING HERE AND
LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS
IS THE PRODUCT OF HARRISBURG
SCHOOLS.
AND HARRISBURG COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ESPECIALLY MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE A SINGLE
MOTHER WORKING FULL TIME AND
TAKE CLASSES IN THE MEANING --
IN THE EVENING AND STILL BE
ABLE TO COMPLETE A DEGREE.
THAT TO ME IS A TREASURE.
IT IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET
AND JUST TO KNOW YOU CAN GO
DOWN THERE.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS
AFFORDABLE AND THEY HAD
CLASSES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO
ME.
>> THEY ARE REALLY LOVING YOU
RIGHT NOW.
>> WE HAVE LIKE THIS MUTUAL
ADMIRATION.
I THINK HE IS ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS TO HAPPEN TO HARRISBURG
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THIS
AREA.
I DO COME BACK OFTEN AND SPEAK
AT EVENTS AND NOT JUST HERE,
BUT IN OTHER PLACES BECAUSE IN
MEDICINE NOW THEY HAVE ANOTHER
INITIATIVE FOR THE ASSOCIATION
OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES.
WE ARE TRYING TO REACH BACK TO
MORE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THEY REALIZE MORE MEDICAL
STUDENTS WILL START THEIR
CAREERS, THEIR EDUCATIONAL
CAREERS AT THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES.
THAT'S THE TREND NOW.
THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE AN
NICHE -- INITIATIVE WHERE THEY
HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO DO A
NETWORK OF TRYING TO BRING
SOME OF THESE STUDENTS IN.
PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THE
VALUE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IT IS NOT -- IT SHOULD NOT BE
DEEMED AS SOMETHING LESS
THAN.
IT IS COLLEGE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE
RECENT SELLINGMENT ON "60 --
RECENT SEGMENT ON" 60
MINUTES."
I THINK THEY DECIDED TO GO
TUITION FREE.
>> YES, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE
MORE THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH
TUITION FREE, BUT NOT WIDELY
PUBLICIZED.
IT IS INTERESTING HOW MANY
APPLICATIONS THAT SCHOOL WILL
GET NOW THAT IT IS FREE.
>> I WOULD APPLY.
>> THE COST OF GOING TO
MEDICAL SCHOOL IS EXTREMELY
HIGH.
THE COST OF EVEN APPLYING TO
MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T
RECOGNIZE.
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMING FROM SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS.
THEY ALREADY FIND IT HARD TO
COMPETE JUST IN SCHOOLING AND
IN THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS THAT
WILL HELP THEM BECOME PREPARED
FOR PRE-MED, BUT THEN THE
COST.
AGAIN THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION
OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES I
HELP TO ESTABLISH A
SCHOLARSHIP FOR UNDER
REPRESENTED MINORITIES AND
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
STUDENTS.
IT ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH
MEDICAL COOL AND THEN DENTAL
SCHOOL AND NOW IT IS -- AGAIN
IT IS RECOGNIZING NURSE
PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS AND PHARMACISTS AND
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.
THEY ALL HAVE A ROLE IN
GETTING OUR COMMUNITY
HEALTHY.
AND SO IT IS ALSO -- THE
SCHOLARSHIP HELPS THEM APPLY.
IT COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
TO APPLY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS CAN'T DO
IT.
SO WE HAVE STARTED THE -- IT
WAS AFTER DR. PANIES WHO WORKS
HARD IN -- ON DISPARITY AND SO
WE NAMED IT IN HONOR OF HIM.
THEY HOPE TO GO BACK TO
PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITIES.
>> PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT ONCE THEY SAY IT IS FREE
OR LOWER COST OR WHATEVER, THE
COMPETITION WILL BE GREATER.
YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED.
>> YES.
YES.
NOW ANOTHER TITLE OF A
PHYSICIAN I HAVE HEARD OF IS A
HOSPITALLIST.
WHAT IS THAT?
>> A HOSPITALLIST IS SOMEBODY
WHO DOES THEIR PRACTICE IN THE
HOSPITAL.
THEY ARE A PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIAN AND MOST OF US ARE
USED TO OUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN
WHO WE GO TO THEIR PRACTICE.
WE GO TO THEIR OFFICE.
THEN IF WE GO INTO A HOSPITAL
THEY WILL SOMETIMES -- THERE
ARE HOSPITALLISTS WHOSE
PRACTICE IS IN THE HOSPITAL.
THEY TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS
ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> I HAVE TO ASK, AND I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKING, BUT WHEN YOU SEE
THESE PROGRAMS ON TV, CHICAGO
MED, AND YOU KNOW THE DRAMAS
--
>> I DON'T THINK THEY GET ANY
WORK DONE THERE.
THAT'S NOT REAL.
I THINK IT IS INTERESTING.
MY HUSBAND WAS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND HE JUST
RETIRED AFTER 25 YEARS, AND HE
CAN'T WATCH A LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHOW.
WE CAN'T WATCH IT TOGETHER
BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS SAYING
WHAT IS NOT REAL, AND I'M LIKE
OKAY IT IS JUST A SHOW.
WHEN THERE IS A MEDICAL SHOW
ON I'M GOING WELL THAT WOULD
NEVER HAPPEN.
THEN IT IS HIS TURN TO SAY IT
IS JUST A SHOW.
>> THANK GOODNESS A LOT OF
THOSE THINGS AREN'T HAPPENING
DAY BY DAY.
>> MAN OH MAN.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING?
>> SO LIKE I SAID I HAD FIVE
CHILDREN AND I WENT TO
HARRISBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
PATRIOT NEWS DID A STORY ON
ME, A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE
GRADUATES -- SETS AN EXAMPLE
IN EDUCATION OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT WHEN I GOT MY ASSOCIATE'S
DEGREE.
THEY DID A STORY ON ME WHEN I
WAS ACCEPTED TO YALE.
I WAS THE FIRST GRANDMOTHER TO
GO TO YALE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE MY
MOTHER -- ANYTIME SOMEBODY
WROTE AN ARTICLE AND THEY DID
SEVERAL IN MED SCHOOL, BUT MY
MOTHER WOULD SEND IT TO
OPRAH.
SHE WOULD SAY I AM UPDATING
OPRAH'S FILE.
I COULDN'T CONVINCE MY MOTHER
THAT OPRAH DIDN'T HAVE A FILE
ON ME.
SO SHE WAS SO PROUD OF ME WHEN
I GOT INTO MED SCHOOL.
SHE WAS MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER.
SHE PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS IN
MEDICAL SCHOOL.
I WAS ABOUT TO GRADUATE AND I
WAS FEELING DOWN BECAUSE SHE
WOULDN'T BE THERE TO SEE IT.
SHE WAS THE ONE PERSON WHO
BELIEVED IN ME WHEN NO ONE
ELSE DID.
THE NEWSPAPER HERE DID ANOTHER
STORY UPDATING -- MY DAUGHTER
SAID YOU DID A STORY ON MY
MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS ACCEPTED
TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND DO YOU
WANT TO FOLLOW-UP?
THEY SAID YEAH, SHE IS
GRADUATING.
THEY DID A STORY AND I HEARD
LATER FROM THE REPORTER THAT
THEY SENT IT -- A LOT OF
PEOPLE SAID THIS IS A GREAT
STORY.
SEND IT TO OPRAH.
A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE
GRADUATION OPRAH SURPRISED ME
IN HER PRODUCTION COMPANY AT
THE MED SCHOOL AND INVITED ME
ON TO HER SHOW.
I GOT TO GO ON HER SHOW.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT WAS MY
MOTHER SAYING MY LITTLE ANGEL
BECAUSE SHE PASSED AWAY SAYING
I WILL UPDATE OPRAH.
I GOT TO GO ON OPRAH'S SHOW
AND I FOUND OUT THAT SHE FLEW
OUT ALL MY CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
BY THEN I HAD FIVE CHILDREN
AND FOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND SHE
FLEW THEM OUT AND SURPRISED
ME.
I WAS REMARRIED AND MY HUSBAND
WAS THERE.
AND SHE ALSO ANNOUNCED SHE WAS
PAYING OFF ALL OF MY MED
SCHOOL DEBT.
>> NO!
>> YES.
SHE PAID OFF ALL OF MY MED
SCHOOL DEBT AND THE TAXES ON
IT.
SHE PAID OVER $200 SOMETHING
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
JOHNSON AND JOHNSON WHO IS BIG
IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLS
AND THEY PAID IT OFF WITH
OPRAH.
SINCE I WAS ON THE OPRAH SHOW
I WAS ASKED TO DO A LOT OF
SPEAKING.
THAT'S HOW MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKING CAME ABOUT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I
PLANNED.
BUT SINCE THEN I DO TRAVEL
AROUND AND TALK ABOUT MY
STORY.
>> ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?
>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU COME
BACK?
>> I COME BACK TO HARRISBURG
AND SPEAK A LOT.
I SPEAK TO STUDENTS IN
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AROUND HERE
ALL THE TIME.
>> ONE OF THE OPEN CHURCHES I
THINK YOU WERE THERE, SHILO
--
>> YES, YES.
I REMEMBER.
>> WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
SO IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN
YOUR BOOKS AND INTERESTED IN
GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOU CAN
THEY FOLLOW YOU ON FACEBOOK?
>> I AM ON TWITTER.
I AM ON FACEBOOK.
I ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE KAREN
.PRIESTER.COM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT
THAT INFORMATION UP, BUT I
HAVE A WEBSITE AND TWITTER AS
WELL.
>> FANTASTIC.
GREAT.
I DO HOPE PEOPLE WILL REACH
OUT TO YOU.
I KNOW PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR
NEED TO HEAR YOU AND
EXPERIENCE YOU AND KNOW THAT
IT IS POSSIBLE.
IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> I AM STOKED ABOUT OPRAH.
WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME AND I
AM GLAD TO HAVE DR. PRIESTER
ON WHO IS A FANTASTIC PERSON
AND EXAMPLE OF THAT OUR
COMMUNITY CAN DO -- OF WHAT
OUR COMMUNITY CAN DO AND WILL
DO AND HAS DONE.
THERE ARE OTHER DR. PRIESTERS
OUT THERE RIGHT NOW LOOKING
FOR OUR HELP.
NEVER OVER LOOK ANYBODY AND
LET'S HELP EVERYBODY AS MUCH
AS WE CAN.
DR. PRIESTER, THANK YOU AGAIN
VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING THE PROGRAM AND HOPE
YOU WILL TUNE IN AGAIN TO
"LIFE ESTEEM".
GOD BLESS.
