Today we’d like to introduce you to Cree Clay.
Cree, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Hello, my name is Cree Clay. I am currently a Resident Physician in the field of Psychiatry. I started Pretty Girl Practice when I first started Medical School. On my blog, I highlight the highs and lows, study tips, interview tips and everything in between about medicine. Being the first person in my family in Medicine was eye-opening and there were so many things about the medical field and healthcare that I didn’t know. Pretty Girl Practice allows people to see my daily life and what it’s actually like to become a doctor behind the scenes. It’s not always pretty or glamorous, but it is surely rewarding.
I am currently a Resident Physician. Residency is post-graduate training that you complete after you graduate from medical school. It can last anywhere from 3 to 7 years. I am training to become a Psychiatrist which is a four year-long residency. Throughout the residency, I will be trained in multiple settings, including General Medicine, Neurology, Inpatient Psychiatry Services, Geriatric Psychiatry, Consult & Liaison Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Outpatient Psychiatry and trained in multiple forms of Therapy.
If God says the same, I would like to pursue further training with a Child Psychiatry Fellowship. I have always been passionate about children, as they represent our hope and our future.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Going through medical school is tough. I was sitting at a desk studying for years. I can’t even tell you how many hours I studied. There were times where I studied but still wasn’t grasping the material. I didn’t pass every exam in medical school but I didn’t let that define me. I was able to redirect my focus and learn new study strategies and coping skills. The biggest piece of advice I would have is to just keep going. One failed test doesn’t define you, but on the same token – making straight A’s shouldn’t define you either. Be humble and work hard.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pretty Girl Practice is a blog that I created when I first started Medical School four years ago. The purpose of this blog is to encourage others to follow their dreams. There is a huge shortage of minorities in medicine and I want people to be able to see that they can achieve hard things. We need more people of different backgrounds in medicine as representation is everything. I think what sets me apart from others is continuing to shine through adversity. I realized that there was a greater purpose that I had to share my journey with others as a source of Inspiration. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are considering medicine as a career and always know that you can achieve hard things.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I would say Perseverance. Many people dream of becoming a doctor and think that is unattainable or too long of a road. I beg to differ. I am definitely not the smartest or anything like that, but I study hard, work hard and I didn’t give up. Mama didn’t raise no quitter! Perseverance has allowed me to keep going and allowed me to push through despite any naysayers. I didn’t make it this far by relying on others’ opinions of me. I had to keep going and not give up despite my shortcomings, failures and self-doubt. I always knew that God had a greater plan for me, regardless of what my current circumstances might be.
Contact Info:
- Website: prettygirlpractice.com
- Email: creeclay@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettygirlpractice/
- Facebook: facebook.com/prettygirlpractice
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