Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Chalmers.
Hi Charlene, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After college, I was applying to medical school and studied to take the entrance exam (the MCAT). I ended up bombing this test so withdrew my med school application, I was devastated. I had an existential crisis of sorts (who am I, where am I going, what am I doing with my life) so spontaneously signed up for a 3 week-long volunteer trip to Arusha, Tanzania. This decision changed my life. While in Tanzania, I fell in love with everything about the country: the language, the food, the people, the culture, and especially the children. I went back to America and kept thinking about the amazing things I had seen there. I started to study again for the MCAT and re-apply to medical school, all the while feeling like I wanted to do something more. I ended up getting wait listed at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. I was still worried I wouldn’t get in (my second MCAT score was a little better but not much) so I started looking into other job options. I randomly googled ‘jobs in Tanzania’ and the first thing that popped up was an ad seeking an English teacher for a small village called Berega. I sent an email inquiring about the position and instantly got a reply that they needed someone to teach English for a year, no experience required, and they would pay for all expenses. I had never been so excited about something before. So now I had a big choice to make, stay in Georgia and wait to see if I would be taken off the wait list at medical school, or take a giant leap of faith and move to Tanzania for a year.
After careful thought, consideration, and prayer, I decided to take the job in East Africa, firmly believing that if I was meant to be a doctor that it would still happen somehow. But life has a sense of humor and as soon as I arrived in the village of Berega, I got my acceptance letter for medical school with a start date for the following month. I emailed the school and asked if they would please defer my acceptance for a year and they agreed. So not only did I get to have the most incredible year teaching the most brilliant students, traveling the world, and having new experiences, but I got to enjoy this time knowing I would go back to the States and start my career training to be a doctor. In my mind, I thought I had to choose between these two great options but actually, I was meant to have both.
I absolutely loved my time in Tanzania and grew very close to my students, leaving them was one of the most difficult things I had ever done. But I knew if I was to have the greatest impact in the world, I needed to become a doctor first. I started medical school in August of 2015 but continued to keep in touch with the people from my village to see how the kids were doing. I went back once a year to check on them and make sure they were progressing in their studies well. In 2017, our first class of primary school students was about to graduate and I realized they would not have a quality secondary school to attend (the government schools are very poor and under-resourced, and not much learning occurs at all). This is when I decided to start a 501©3 organization to secure sponsors for each child so they could continue their education and have a chance at a better future. This has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life. Over the last 5 years, we have sent almost 30 children to secondary school and will hopefully continue to support them as they pursue university or other job training. As one person, I know there is not much I can do; however, these young people will become teachers, nurses, pilots, and politicians, and they will be the ones to create change in their communities. But most importantly, they will have so many more opportunities in life. I am now about to complete my residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and I’ve secured a position as a primary care pediatrician in Manning, South Carolina. My ultimate goal is to return to Tanzania to pursue a career in global health and to be close to these children I love. When my journey started, I had no idea what God had in store for me but I’m sure glad this was His plan. I’m forever grateful.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not, there have been many struggles and bumps on the road to becoming a doctor. Studying for the MCAT was one of my biggest obstacles, I am not great with standardized exams and really get anxious about taking these long computerized tests. I studied nonstop for months and still made a barely passing score, even on my second try. However, I am now grateful for this because had it not been for my difficulties in taking this test, I never would have gone to Tanzania and never would have discovered my passion for children and global health. Medical school and residency have also been incredibly difficult. Keep up with all my studies, learn a never-ending amount of material, and compare myself to my fellow students and colleagues. There have been many times when I didn’t feel like I was good enough or that I didn’t deserve to be there, but continued to do the work that was in front of me and give it my all. Even though the last 7 years have been some of the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life, I now have so much gratitude and appreciation for all the medical training I’ve been through. I have grown and been challenged in ways I didn’t know I was capable of, I’ve met some of the most wonderful people, and more importantly I’ve learned how to become a competent pediatrician. I’ve always believed nothing worth having ever comes easy, and I know I will always cherish this time in my life because I’ve worked so hard to get here.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am about to finish my residency in pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. I will not be pursuing a fellowship so will not have a specific specialty (ie cardiology, hematology, neonatology, etc). I will be starting as a general pediatrician at a practice called Hope Health in Manning, South Carolina. This means I will be able to see children from when they are born until they turn 18, and will see them for their yearly checkups, when they need vaccines, or when they get sick. I will help coordinate care for them like referring to specialists when needed or making sure they get plugged in with mental health or dentistry. I will be a valued resource for parents when they have specific questions or concerns about their child’s health. I will have the opportunity to care for these children over the course of their lifetime and hopefully help them avoid chronic illness as adults. That’s what I love most about pediatrics is the ability to prevent disease before it happens. The practice I am working for is an FQHC (federally qualified health center) so they provide health care to children who are underinsured, uninsured, or undocumented immigrants. This is my greatest goal in life, to provide care to underserved communities who have little or no access to medical services. I am looking forward to serving this population and creating deep and meaningful relationships with my patients and their parents.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is finding your true purpose in life, something that fulfills you and makes you happy. Money and material possessions are nice, but in my experience, these things do not bring lasting joy. Having the opportunity to wake up every day and go to work and enjoy what you do, knowing it’s what you were put on this Earth for, is a feeling unlike anything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: lightingthewaytanzania.org
- Instagram: lighting_the_way_tanzania
- Facebook: Lighting the Way Tanzania Inc.
