For those of you who are unaware- It’s National Women Physician’s Day, February 3rd! This day celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of women in medicine. Specifically, it honors the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, who, in 1849 became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. This observance also serves as an opportunity to inspire and support upcoming generations of women pursuing careers in healthcare and medicine. To celebrate this day, FASD United interviewed dedicated physician and woman of color, Adiaha Spinks-Franklin.
“I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and board-certified Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician,” Dr. Spinks-Franklin describes numerous roles in addition to her career history and achievements. “I have a telehealth Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric practice called Adoption and Beyond Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Clinic. I worked for Baylor College of Medicine for 17 years as Associate Professor of Pediatrics. I am President of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP). I serve in national leadership roles for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatrics.” If her work track record wasn’t enough, she’s also just learned how to roller skate. Talk about a woman who does it all!
Dr. Spinks-Franklin also acknowledges the intersectionality of womanhood with Black identity, “I am an African American woman in medicine, and I am one of the few African American Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians in the United States. I have faced misogynoir (the specific type of gendered racism that Black women experience) on a regular basis, from being mistaken for a housekeeper to White patients telling me they would prefer to see a “regular” doctor, to colleagues discounting my intelligence, knowledge, and skills.” Through self-advocacy and perseverance, she has paved her own pathway as a social justice warrior, “Being a Black woman has given me insight into the complexities of life. I know how it feels to be passed over, ignored, and belittled. I treat my patients and families with dignity and respect.” She passionately explains that her identity has assisted her career and her relationships with her patients.
Her journey began with her own childhood medical difficulties with asthma, “In the 1970s and early 1980s, there were not as many effective treatments for asthma. I had a wonderful pediatrician who was kind and compassionate.” Dr. Spinks-Franklin discusses her fondly, “She and I are still friends to this day. She has supported me in my career.” In a world where women support women, empowerment becomes a shared journey, fostering strength, resilience, and success. “I became a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician because I enjoy working with children with developmental disabilities and behavioral health conditions.”
As a board-certified Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Adiaha Spinks-Franklin evaluates and cares for children, teenagers, and young adults with behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities. She addresses a range of conditions like ADHD, FASD, ASD, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, genetic syndromes, speech and language disorders, delayed potty training, sleep behavior problems, and more. “I enjoy helping children see their own strengths and talents. I enjoy helping families learn how to advocate for their children in school and in the community. My goal is to help disabled children live healthy and happy lives with a positive disability identity.”
FASD was first introduced to Dr. Spinks-Franklin in medical school, “I was initially very surprised that being exposed to alcohol prenatally could cause a number of developmental disabilities, learning problems, and behavioral challenges during childhood. Learning about FASD helped me to understand the complex interaction between biological and environmental factors that contribute to the development of an unborn child.” During her time in a pediatric fellowship, skills like identification, intervention, and evaluation allowed her to connect to patients with FASD in her community. She found herself drawn to the foster/adoptive community, specifically exploring the intricacies of FASD and PAE: “I honed my skills in caring for this population of children, learning so much from families, and helping families connect to community services their child needs.”
When asked what she wishes everyone knew about FASD she brainstormed three things, for one, “There is no safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy.” Secondly, “I wish everyone knew that being exposed to ethanol prenatally does not necessarily predict the type of amazing human being a person can become. Our past can influence our future, but it does not determine our future.” And finally, “I wish everyone knew that when people consume alcohol during pregnancy, it is a sign of historical and intergenerational trauma that has not been appropriately identified, addressed, or treated.” Dr. Spinks-Franklin addresses the stigma related to FASD and those who consume alcohol while pregnant, “Society tends to stigmatize pregnant people for consuming alcohol while pregnant, yet we rarely examine the root causes of why a person would drink alcohol during pregnancy in the first place.” Examining the systemic and societal factors that contribute to this topic is imperative.
She explains that pediatricians and other health professionals require training to diagnose and treat FASD properly. To further this movement, Dr. Spinks-Franklin is now the lead author on two new national FASD policy statements through AAP: “Our goal is to help increase knowledge and skills of pediatric healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating children who have FASDs while also supporting their families.”
Dr. Spinks-Franklin wants to inspire the next generation of women interested in medicine while maintaining realistic understanding, “Look for mentors who can help you create a career path and goal for yourself. My grandmother used to say, “Plan your work and work your plan.” I live by that wisdom.” She explains the importance of having people in your corner to support you in what will be a time-consuming, sometimes challenging journey. “The more exposure you get to working around physicians, the more you will know about the field to decide if this is what you really want…becoming a physician is not for the faint of heart.”
While Adiaha Spinks-Franklin may appear as a superhero, she wants to readjust the narrative through a more human lens. “We have to put our pants on one leg at a time like everybody else. We do not know everything. We are experts in the fields that we are trained in, and we have TONS of training and education. However, we are not gods. We make mistakes. We must continue to learn and update our knowledge to take better care of our patients.” Her viewpoint on the wider experience of a physician-patient relationship shines through her practice, “I see parents as experts in their child, and I am an expert in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. We work together as a team in the best interest of the child.” We need more physicians like Dr. Spinks-Franklin.
What an amazing woman and doctor. Ponder for a moment the hard work of the women in your life today, especially those whose journeys are in medicine. Let’s give a big thank you to all our physicians!