DaCarla Albright

You currently serve as a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Perelman School of Medicine and as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Wellness at Penn Medicine. Could you tell us about your day-to-day and your path to these roles? 

My day-to-day is never the same, and I love that. I spend two days per week as a clinician, seeing patients, routine prenatal and Gyn care, office procedures. No clinical day is ever the same. And I am fortunate to have nearly 13 years' worth of patient continuity at Penn, so I know my patients well, and look forward to the annual visits and the opportunity to follow-up with those whom I have been fortunate to deliver. For the remaining three days of the week, I spend my time as a Student Affairs dean, mindful of the academic support and progression, career guidance, mental health, and wellness of our students. To be honest, that job does not fit neatly into three days, but it doesn’t matter, because I love the role and believe, every single day, that it is exactly where I should be at this stage of my career. 

What interested you about becoming a Fellow at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia?  

History and tradition resonate with me. The city of Philadelphia has done so from the moment of my relocation nearly 14 years ago. I believe The College of Physicians to be a rich part of the history of medicine in Philadelphia. As such, I feel that in my practice of medicine and mentorship of students, I must uphold the values and the mission of the College and pledge to continue to do my part to enrich the engagement of students with the College and meaningfully contribute to its legacy. 

I got a chance to watch a few of your television appearances with Grammy-award-winning star Sheryl Crow! How did you two connect and what has that been like for you? It must be amazing to use your platforms together to advocate for preventative screenings like mammograms.  

Having the honor to work with Sheryl Crow in the promotion of breast health, breast cancer screening, and resumption of self-care and screening during the pandemic has been nothing short of amazing! Breast health and screening is one of my clinical passions, and as a consultant for Hologic, Inc., I was asked to work with Sheryl, also a consultant for their company, and a breast cancer survivor. My takeaway is that Sheryl is passionate about the cause to encourage women to be observant about their breast health, and I love that she is authentic, personable, and humanistic regardless of her stardom. 

Your work with Penn Medicine’s mobile mammography unit has made breast cancer screenings straightforward and accessible for so many people. As you so perfectly put it in ; “If a mother has to [prioritize] childcare or going to her job versus screening, it is so much easier to offer an opportunity directly in someone’s neighborhood.” Could you speak to how this idea got started and if applicable, how do you hope to see the College being of help to your efforts in the future?  

I was invited to participate in this event by the Chief of Staff of the University of Pennsylvania Health System due to my prior work in breast cancer screening. It was a partnership with Siemens and an educational opportunity for the Muriel Dobbins Technical High School in North Philadelphia. This is one aspect of Penn’s commitment to serving communities and decreasing disparities, especially in a neighborhood where some of those women may be at increased risk. I would love to partner with the College in an event that allows the opportunity for women in underserved communities, many of whom may be women of color, to have the opportunity to be screened in their neighborhoods. These women are at risk of breast cancer at an earlier age, and women of color die from breast cancer at a significantly higher rate than their white counterparts. I want to decrease barriers to screening, and improve early detection, so we can decrease future harm.   

Who is a physician or mentor that has influenced and inspired you? 

This is difficult, as it is not singular. My career to date has been impacted, in different ways, by some of the most accomplished women in their fields. Dr. Deborah Driscoll, my former department chair, and current Senior Vice President, Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania, and Vice Dean for Professional Services, gave me the opportunity to join Penn, and honestly has been one of my strongest mentors in my return to academic medicine and pursuit of a career in medical education. She helped me find my passion. Dr. Suzanne Rose, my current Senior Vice Dean for Medical Education, was able to see a skillset that I possessed, maybe even before I had the courage to acknowledge it and offered me the opportunity to become the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Wellness. She is allowing me to pursue my passion. And finally, two of my partners, Drs. Abike James and Florencia Polite, inspire me daily. They are women of color, also excelling in our field of obstetrics and gynecology, and I have the honor to be inspired by their humanity, commitment to our field, and their tireless work ethic. They, unknowingly, fuel my purpose, passion, and commitment to my role daily.