Resident Spotlight: Dr. Brianna Arrington

Meet Dr. Brianna Arrington, Meharry graduate and current PGY-3 in medicine-pediatrics. Here, Dr. Arrington shares about her path to UMMC, her love of TV shows, and some advice for the new interns.

Why did you choose UMMC for residency?
I chose UMMC because of the camaraderie and excitement I observed among the
residents during both recruitment and interview season. Not only has this
remained unfaltering within my Med-Peds cohort but among all disciplines in the
hospital. This helps create a comfortable environment conducive to learning. I also
wanted to train in an area like Mississippi where some of its population has the
opportunity to see and connect with a physician who looks like them.

Tell us about a memorable experience from training.
I would say a memorable experience from training would be one from just last
month on my geriatrics rotation. I would often spend some of my mornings
speaking with one particular lady, literally just talking about whatever came to our
minds. This particular day, I decided to show her a video clip of my niece and
nephew riding together in a toy car. Out of the many days she spent on our
service, I think that was the loudest I’ve heard her laugh and the biggest I’ve seen
her smile. She told me that she loved seeing the joy in little children and watching
that clip made her day. I was glad I could make her happy while she was spending
her days in the hospital.

What is one thing you would tell the incoming interns about what is to come?
I would tell the interns to get ready for continuous change. These changes will
manifest in both your personal life and work life (i.e how you practice medicine).
Residency is an experience that no one can really prepare you for. Embrace the
uncertainty and imposter syndrome. These will all fade away as you learn and
grow. Trust me.

What could you give a presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
I could give a presentation about God’s grace and mercies without preparation. He
has been the center of my life for as long as I can remember. Without Him, I would
not have been able to be who I am today. I thank God everyday for allowing me to
be a vessel to help heal others. God is great and without a doubt his love is
unconditional.

How has COVID-19 changed the way you practice medicine?
I started residency in July 2020, so COVID was still very much new at that time. I
have also trained through the delta and omicron variant waves. So, being at the
forefront of medicine in such a tortuous and uncertain time, has taught me to be
more tenacious.

What are some small things that make your day better?
Small acts of kindness make my day better such as a smile from a stranger or a
compliment from a nurse. Hearing from my family everyday also makes me feel
good and gives me that extra push to get through.

Where could we find you when you are not at the hospital?
You can find me at any restaurant in Jackson trying out new foods. But my real
guilty pleasure includes indulging myself into reality TV or binge watching a series
on Netflix.

What profession would you have chosen if you weren’t a physician?
I would have chosen a route that would allow me to become some sort of social
influencer, whether that be with my own TV show or podcast. I enjoy interviewing
people and would like to use my voice to reach different demographics; however,
my main target would be the Black community. On my social media outlet, I
would’ve liked to speak about certain topics that would make healthcare more
relatable and less taboo.