Making an impact: Local physician recognized for efforts

A local physician, Dr. Myiesha Taylor, embarked on a mission last year to establish an organization that would provide support to female doctors of color. Taylor started Artemis in June through a Facebook page. The group now has more than 2,500 members.

"Artemis is still growing every day. We are in the process of forming a charity so we can collect dues and do some good stuff in the world with the money we collect," Taylor said. "So far we are in the process of doing what we set out to do. We have done several career days and served as mentors to several women interested in becoming physicians."

Taylor recently received two accolades for her work with Artemis. She was named a 2012 culture definer by the HBCU Digest, a daily blog and news resource that provides stories and commentary about the nation's historically black colleges and universities. Taylor was also recognized as one of the Great Women of Texas by the Fort Worth Business Press.

"It means a lot to get recognized. It really helps the organization so we can draw more interest," Taylor said. "A lot of times people want to see who is behind a certain group and what their motivation is."

Taylor, an emergency department specialist at Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale and an alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana, started Artemis to support Disney Junior's new television cartoon, "Doc McStuffins." The show spotlights a 6-year-old African-American girl who dreams of a career as a physician, and Taylor shared her delight of the show on her own blog, http://www.CoilyEmbrace.com, and via Facebook, and she collected pictures of 131 African-American women physicians and sent them in a collage to Disney.

"I believe we all have a responsibility to give back to our communities and make the world a better place," she said. "The work my colleagues and I are doing on the We Are Doc McStuffins campaign is an effort to help make our health care system better for all Americans."

Taylor launched Artemis in June via a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/groups/342922302445521.

"Artemis Medical Society believes women physicians of color are a vital part of an effective physician workforce," said Taylor, who lives in Tarrant County but is part of the Innovative Emergency Physicians of Sunnyvale medical practice. "We all want a medical workforce that delivers quality health care and also is responsive [to] our increasingly diverse communities. Our mission is to serve, nurture and celebrate a global sisterhood of women physicians of color."

Artemis provides mentoring, networking opportunities and advocacy. The nonprofit hosted several online seminars for members recently.

"With all the changes to health care and the increase in access, we need more doctors," Taylor said.

Taylor chose emergency medicine after her father, Dwight, was one of the first bystanders shot in the Los Angeles riots in 1992 following the controversial verdict in the Rodney King beating case. Dwight was taken to a local hospital not known for trauma care, and he later died of his injuries, ones that his daughter believes the former college athlete could have survived.

"Dr. Taylor exemplifies why we created the Great Women of Texas award," said Bob Francis, editor of Fort Worth Business Press. "She is outstanding in her profession and she is using her skills to elevate others interested in her field."

"Dr. Taylor is a true leader in her profession, as well as wonderful role model for all young minority girls and women," said Stephen Garrison, TRMC-Sunnyvale's CEO and president. "We are proud to call her a member of Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale's medical staff."

This is the second year The HBCU Digest presented Digest 50. The full list is available at http://hbcudigest.com/the-digest-50-2012s-most-powerful-people-groups-in-hbcu-culture. Taylor was one of 18 Tarrant County women honored by Fort Worth Business Press. The Tarrant County business journal presents the awards annually. The winners were named last month and their stories are available at http://www.fwbusinesspress.com.

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