Combining Medicine With Fashion: Paging Dr. Dre
Photo by Ahmad Sweeney @sweenshots.
Tearsheet By Emily McKenzie.
1. Tell us your name.
Dr. Andrea Alexander.
2. Where do you live and where did you grow up?
I grew up on the Southwest side of Houston, TX. My childhood was pretty typical to that of any black youth. I grew up in a lower to middle class neighborhood with a single mother. My mother was a typing teacher, and my father was an engineer. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was 5, but my mother has always told me that he passed on his hunger for intelligence and tenacity to rise to me.
3. Profession?
I am an OBGYN physician and a fashion, health, fitness, and natural hair blogger aka Paging Dr. Dre.
4. How did you discover you wanted to be in this profession?
Since I have always liked math, science, anatomy, and physiology, I knew I would be a doctor by the age of 13. Still, I was heavily involved with dance and art while growing up, and I was conflicted as to which path to choose. I prayed for a sign from God to guide me about the direction I was to take. The day of my second dance audition to gain acceptance into a prestigious art school (the same one Beyoncé attended), I got into a pretty scary car wreck. Although I got into the school, I took that as God leading me to the alternate path: medicine. This combined with the fact that my mother passed out one night, and I, with my limited knowledge at the time, jumped into action mode instead of panic mode. From that point on, I knew I loved medicine in particular. Spoiler alert: She was fine, lol.
In high school, I decided not to attend the school I was zoned to, which was Sharpstown High School. I decided to go to a magnet program (a school designed to pull students toward their career interests and desired fields of study). I attended the High School for Health Professions. There, I found a love for treating women patients. I shadowed Dr. Hunter A. Hammill in the field of OBGYN with a concentration of treating HIV/AIDS patients and transsexual patients my junior year of high school. I then went to Baylor University, Waco, TX, and received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Pre-Med and a minor in Chemistry. With a strong desire to attend a Historically Black College and University (an HBCU) like both of my parents, I attended the Howard University College of Medicine and found a love for OBGYN. I decided to come back home to Houston after medical school and completed my OBGYN residency at UT Houston in June 2019.
Photo by Joshua Pharris @pharrisphotos.
Tearsheet By Emily McKenzie.
5. Who influenced your career the most as you were growing up?
My father was my biggest inspiration, for sure. I didn't get to form much of a personal relationship with him, but his reputation that preceded him was always accompanied with accolades for this intelligence and laudation for his work ethic. I bear his last name; I NEVER want to let him down, so I always did my best in school and tried to make the best decisions.
Can you imagine coming from NOTHING and working as hard as he did to become a successful engineer, only to have a child with a lackluster work ethic and not a care as to whether or not that child taints your last name? I wasn't having it, and I'm still not.
6. What advice do you have for people who want to start a blog?
The biggest advice is unfortunately a little cliché: BE YOURSELF. I think unfortunately there is currently a trend for people to post what's already being talked about, or to post content that adheres to and satisfies a hashtag that has garnered much attention in order to gain followers. Be genuine in your content. Post about something that others aren't talking about, but that you truly take an interest in. People will follow and support, regardless. Also, don't be selfish with your feed. If you see injustice or a way to lend your platform to make a better place, don't pass on a chance to serve mankind. In doing so, you may have to "ruin" or throw off your perfectly manicured page or piss off literally 0.012% of your followers who are on the wrong side of history. People will associate your brand with high character and morality, and they will respect your bravery. Don't be plastic.
Photo by Ahmad Sweeney @sweenshots.
7. Explain to us what the purpose of your brand is.
I've always seen my purpose as helping and serving my diaspora of people. My brand is to contribute to closing health disparities through medicine and to inspire other black and brown individuals to pursue careers in medicine.
8. Share a memorable moment from your career.
The most memorable moment was when I felt that one of my jobs was no longer serving me mentally, physically, spiritually, or financially. I had no peace. I wasn't respected. I was not protected. I had to make the HARDEST decision of my life and move on. I encourage others to do the same if this is practical and applies to you. Trust the signs to move on professionally if you feel the same.
9. Where do you hope to go next in your career?
To the top, I'm not quite sure where that it is. But I'm confident that includes a large black-owned medical practice and a platform/charity for inspiring and helping young women.
10. What purpose do you hope your blog serves its readers?
I hope people are inspired to be themselves. My fashion choices were always met with criticism, some light-hearted, others hate-filled. Nonetheless, I was still guided by my inner self and I found my niche in fashion. I was told my natural hair was "unprofessional", yet, here my fro stands. I was always told that "my mouth" in speaking on injustices in the workplace would get me in trouble or get me fired. Yet, here I am.
Photo by Rome Goodson @romegoodson.
11. What are your top tips for those wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle?
Take it slowly. There is a lot of pressure to adhere to the perfect health regimen: Drinking freshly and cold pressed celery juice, 8 oz of hot lemon water, an ACV shot with paprika, all at 8 AM. Eating three meals a day with only lean proteins, complex carbs and healthy fats, two light snacks, and perform a 30 minute to 1 hour vigorous weight-training session 3-5 times a week. IDK about anyone else, but if I miss even ONE of these steps, I feel worthless. We want to feel like we are making progress, because at the end of the day, that is what is going to drive us to keep going. Start making small changes. Incorporate your favorite greens on your plate at least twice a day; if you have a heavy cheat meal, drink lots of water BEFORE and AFTER you eat to prevent over-eating; if you get a burger, don't eat the bun; if you want ice cream, get Greek yogurt (no toppings); if you want a milkshake, get a protein smoothie (I SWEAR by Smoothie King's YogurtD-Lite made skinny, tastes just like the real thing), if you want a cookie, get a protein cookie (Like Lenny and Larry's Complete Vegan Protein Cookie); walk for 30 minutes to day with weights, do 5-10 squat jumps at every corner you reach. Make achievable milestones so you can make realistic change.
12. You are also interested in fashion. Who’s your biggest fashion inspiration?
Hands down Rihanna. I love how she incorporates unique shapes and frames with edgy pieces. I have an unfathomably large fashion crush on Gwen Stefani, and I have had one since I was a teen. I absolutely love how she incorporates intricate designs and textures of metal (mainly my favorite is gold) with classic 1940-50s femininity and punk rock. I am a huge fan of Carlie Cushnie and her simplistic designs played on asymmetry. Some of my favorite designers are YSL, The Blonds New York, DSquared2, and Peter Dundas (especially when he was over the Emilio Pucci house).
Photo by Ahmad Sweeney @sweenshots.
13. Social Media?
@paging.dr.dre
Article by Alison Hernon, Editor-In-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine.
Influencer With A Cause hosts influencers who are creating a positive theme such as body positivity, sustainability, and healthy eating.
