Audio Transcript Auto-generated
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Hello. I am dr Dawn Bell.
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Doctor of podiatric medicine.
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I am a native of Rich square north Carolina, a
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population of about 950 people.
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I currently reside with my husband and my 13 year
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old son here in Hampton Virginia.
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I am a podiatrist and I know many of you
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are probably wondering what is a podiatrist?
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Well, podiatrist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing, treating
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and evaluating diseases and conditions involving the foot as well
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as the ankle.
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We take care of problems such as bunions, hammer toes,
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painful ingrown toenails, warts, corns and calluses.
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We also specialize in diabetic foot care, diabetic ulcers and
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many other diseases involving the foot and ankle.
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I've had the privilege to work at one of the
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largest Navy hospitals in the United States Navy Medical Center,
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Portsmouth in Portsmouth Virginia.
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In the last five years of my career I've worked
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at the Norfolk sports Clinic at the largest military facility
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at Naval Station, Norfolk in Norfolk Virginia.
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Mhm. I have been a podiatrist since 1997.
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There have been a lot of subjects and courses.
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I've had to study along the way.
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Just like you, I had to take writing, history, english
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science, you name it, but the subjects that I use
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every single day in my job I would have to
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say other sciences such as anatomy and physiology, biology.
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But I also have to use math because I give
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injections, I do surgery.
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So I have to also know how to convert medication
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from milliliters two micrograms.
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I also have to use chemistry and physics when I'm
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doing certain procedures in surgery because in order to correct
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certain deformities, we have to do mathematical equations and a
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lot of physics is involved.
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Also. Also writing is one of those subjects that I
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didn't think I would have to do a lot of.
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But every single day I'm either writing prescriptions or I
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am documenting in the patient's record everything they tell me
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about their problems and I also have to write down
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my treatment plan.
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So writing is also a subject that I get to
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use every single day at my job.
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What schools did I attend?
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Well in 1976 I started elementary school at W.
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S. Christian School in I believe the first grade I
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was about six years old.
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That's when I knew I wanted to be a physician.
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So from elementary school to middle school, I still took
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a lie in George, science and math and anything related
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to becoming a doctor.
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In 19 84, I started as a freshman at North
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Hampton High School.
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East. I stayed at high school for four years and
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graduated Top of my class in 1989.
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While in high school, I played basketball and I also
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played saxophone in the marching band, but it was basketball
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that afforded me a full four year scholarship to attend
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the most wonderful HBCU in the land, Winston Salem State
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University, Why I was at Winston Salem State University.
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I had the opportunity to play basketball.
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I had the opportunity to continue my musical career in
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the marching band and I was also pledged Delta Sigma
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Theta Sorority Incorporated, where I met your wonderful principal, Dr
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Sharon Porter.
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After leaving Debbie S.
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S. You go rams, I got accepted into the new
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york college of podiatric Medicine in 1993.
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There I was able to obtain a doctorate in podiatric
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medicine at the new york college of podiatric medicine, which
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is located in Harlem new york.
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The most rewarding thing that I could say about my
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career is that I have the opportunity to take care
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of the great men and women who sacrificed their lives
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every single day to keep us safe in this country.
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My job allows me to come face to face with
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real life heroes such as black panther, Captain marvel, Captain
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America. These are your navy seals, your army rangers, airman
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in the Air Force.
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Um, Cbs both inmates, Coast Guard.
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I get the opportunity every single day to serve this
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great country by serving the men and women of our
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armed forces.
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Well before I leave, I want to thank Dr Sharon
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Porter, your vice principal, your faculty and staff and the
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wonderful students of Rose Valley Elementary School.
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It is no mistake that your mascot is the Eagle.
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And just like the Eagle, you have the opportunity to
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see things that other people can't see.
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The eagle has a vision that is eight times greater
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than any human or any other species.
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This gives that eagle the opportunities to see beyond the
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clouds, to drink big and do the impossible.
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That same angle has wingspans greater than seven feet.
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Their wingspan is the same length of an airplane.
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Now this allows the eagle to soar high above the
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clouds. So students at Rose Valley Elementary School, you are
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just like that eagle, you are leaders of excellence, your
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vision airs, You are those students that are able to
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dream big and soar high, so keep dreaming, keep studying.
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Don't be afraid to do the impossible.
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Just like that.
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Eagle continue to soar.
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Thank you.