Review of My Doctor Looks Like Me

[AvidBibliophile]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "My Doctor Looks Like Me" by Emily Woolcock, M.D..]

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3 out of 4 stars

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When a little girl named Celine wakes up achy and feverish with a sore throat, her mom decides that she’ll need to go see a doctor. Celine has always dreamed of someday becoming a doctor herself, but despite her excellent grades and studious determination, she feels discouraged. She realizes that she doesn’t know of any other doctors that have come from her own neighborhood. She worries that maybe she isn’t enough. Her friends laugh at her future career goals and tell her she is dreaming. When a chance appointment with a different pediatrician brings a never-before-seen doctor into her exam room, Celine feels an instant connection. For once in her life, she feels legitimately seen, heard, and truly understood by her physician, and through that positive experience, she finds the courage she needs to think about seriously pursuing her dreams of someday wearing a white coat, too.

My Doctor Looks Like Me is an inspiring children’s book by Emily D. Woolcock, M.D. The author was inspired to write the story after experiencing some similar emotions as a child, and this is the first book in Dr. Woolcock’s My Doctor Looks Like Me series, a series that realistically explores why meaningful representation matters. The second book in the series features a boy named Sebastian who meets a male physician with a similar skin tone, and the third book (written in Spanish) features a little boy named Carlos.

As a fellow female physician, I fully stand behind Dr. Woolcock’s mission to educate, mentor, and inform. Most physicians conscientiously seek to provide meaningful, quality care for all residents that reside within the communities they serve. In turn, those residents are vastly more inclined to seek treatment from healthcare providers that look like them. For that reason, treatment teams should resemble their assigned patient populations whenever possible. Reflective representation needs to be present throughout all hospitals, county clinics, community outreach programs, and private practices.

All illustrations in this 25-page book were provided by Sanjay Vijayaverl, and they effectively provided vibrantly accurate depictions that fully complemented the accompanying text. I encountered vision charts, anatomy posters, and chest x-rays, and the characters exhibited believable facial expressions. I did also come across some inclusive mentions of apartment living and public transportation, and those were some of the aspects I enjoyed the most because they realistically portrayed Celine’s daily life, routine, and environment. The terminology was also never overly complex.

I did come across several small errors while reading, but all of the grammatical and typographical errors I encountered were either missing commas or inconsistencies with verb tenses. I also came across an odd blend of recognized writing styles, so I feel that’s an aspect worth notably mentioning. While the majority of the book followed American grammar rules for quotation marks and word spellings, it followed British grammar rules for punctuation placement around quotation marks.

All children must embrace a healthy desire to accept those around them, but when self-doubt begins to corrode a growing child’s self-esteem, it can leave permanent and lasting effects. When little humans are shown how to shift their perspectives and expectations, they can equip themselves with the power and self-belief they need to fully succeed, both personally and professionally, as their lives progress.

Due to the issues with shifting verb tenses, layered writing styles, and missing commas, I can only award this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I do hope that this publication will undergo a quick revision that corrects and addresses those issues because it deserves to truly shine. Those were the only aspects of the book that I disliked. I feel that this story would be appropriate for young readers between the ages of 5 and 9, and I would encouragingly recommend it to children of all races and nationalities. It contains a wonderful message of inspirational encouragement!

Kids are an integral part of this planet’s future, and a healthy society requires equal representation throughout all career sectors. For healthcare to ever be an all-inclusive experience, members of the medical community must reflectively represent the patients they treat. Efforts must be made to repair the trust that has become deeply tested over time, and that is done by providing quality care to every person, every time – regardless of gender or race.

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My Doctor Looks Like Me
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[Dzejn_Crvena]

This story reminds me of Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon for children.
Everything written in your review is awesome.
This sounds inspiring and motivational book for kids who aspire to become what they desire to be.

[RetiredOBNurse]

Sounds like a wonderful story that will not only inspire Celine but many other children to become what they want to be despite the obstacles in their way. Just to see that someone who “looks like me” is able to do it might be all they need to try to achieve their goal.

[Josephe-Anne]

I have met doctors of many different races, nationalities, and skin tones, so I'm sure that the medical field is diverse. But I do understand your point that sometimes patients would prefer to be treated by someone who they can relate to. Yet, we shouldn't let our outward appearances divide us. Quality medical care for all is the goal.

Thank you for sharing your honest opinions of this story.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

Feeling a connection with your physician is crucial for good healthcare. The author had a great idea to introduce these ideas to young children. Lovely review!

[AvidBibliophile]

This story reminds me of Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon for children.
Everything written in your review is awesome.
This sounds inspiring and motivational book for kids who aspire to become what they desire to be.

Thank you for your sweet words. It’s an inspiring and motivational tale in every way, and it’s part of a very meaningful series that will hopefully help many!

[AvidBibliophile]

Sounds like a wonderful story that will not only inspire Celine but many other children to become what they want to be despite the obstacles in their way. Just to see that someone who “looks like me” is able to do it might be all they need to try to achieve their goal.

I hope many children get the chance to read this book because every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and empowered to chase their dreams. Thank you!

[AvidBibliophile]

I have met doctors of many different races, nationalities, and skin tones, so I'm sure that the medical field is diverse. But I do understand your point that sometimes patients would prefer to be treated by someone who they can relate to. Yet, we shouldn't let our outward appearances divide us. Quality medical care for all is the goal.

Thank you for sharing your honest opinions of this story.

Quality and affordable medical care for all should definitely be our ultimate and attainable goal. Throughout med school, rotations, and residency, I definitely worked alongside many physicians that proudly represented underserved cultures and communities, but there was still a large divide at times. I hope that this country can continue to embrace and promote diversity throughout all medical sectors. Thank you for the kind comments of understanding and support!

[AvidBibliophile]

Feeling a connection with your physician is crucial for good healthcare. The author had a great idea to introduce these ideas to young children. Lovely review!

Most definitely! That trusting and open connection makes a world of difference when it comes to accurate diagnoses, treatment plans, and favorable outcomes. This author has penned a very important series for kids, and I hope scores of little, young minds will have the opportunity to benefit from exposure to positive publications like this one. Thank you!

[Kavita Shah]

It feels more familiar when you see someone who looks like you. And it really is a positive for kids who dream to be in a field and meet people like them. A confidence booster and it also give a doable feeling. Thank you for a fantastic review!

[AvidBibliophile]

It feels more familiar when you see someone who looks like you. And it really is a positive for kids who dream to be in a field and meet people like them. A confidence booster and it also give a doable feeling. Thank you for a fantastic review!

Oh for sure, and that familiarity creates a sense of ease that immediately streamlines the entire experience for everyone involved. This story is a confidence booster in every way! Thank you for the sweet words!

[cd20]

It is important for children to feel seen and heard, especially with their primary care physician. They need to be to establish a trust bond in case they ever need to confide something to their doctor. There is much diversity in the medical field, but children do not always get a chance to see that, so it is good that the author has brought it to their attention. Thank you for a fantastic review.

[AvidBibliophile]

It is important for children to feel seen and heard, especially with their primary care physician. They need to be to establish a trust bond in case they ever need to confide something to their doctor. There is much diversity in the medical field, but children do not always get a chance to see that, so it is good that the author has brought it to their attention. Thank you for a fantastic review.

In this book, Celine felt so much anxious trepidation about going to the doctor. She knew she was feeling sick, but she dreaded seeing her usual pediatrician. Once her newly assigned physician walked into the treatment room, her whole world opened up, and that encounter changed not only her day, but also the rest of her life. For every little kid out there who feels different and alone, I hope they someday get the chance to have a positive experience like this one! Thank you for leaving your sweet comment of understanding!

[Chigo Nwagboso]

This book is quite inspiring and motivational. This will serve as a guide and children can draw strength in the storyline, which will propel them to dream big and bearing in mind that their dream is achievable. Thanks for an insightful review.

[Jagiine]

I love this concept! I really hope the editing mistakes are fixed soon because I think a lot of kids (and even older minority aspiring healthcare providers) can be encouraged by the message here. I'm going to consider getting this book for myself! Thanks for your review.