Meet Dr. Rupa Wong

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Rupa Wong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Rupa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I am a second generation Indian-American woman, raised in the South. As such, there have been many times where I was the only one who looked like me in the room. When I was young, this used to make me question whether or not I deserved to be there, insecure about the value and worth I brought into the room. I always deferred to the majority -shy and quiet, knowing that others underestimated me and all I had accomplished to be in the room with them.

When I started my medical practice 16 years ago with my husband, I first noticed this. The attorneys handling our purchase agreement, the accountant performing the valuation and even some of my colleagues, would all defer to my husband in discussing business matters. They didn’t know that my forte was the business and financial side of the practice, not my husband’s.

And, that’s when I realized, there is power in being underestimated. I used to hate it. But, I now realize that being underestimated indicates a lack of imagination by others, not a deficit in my own abilities. There is power in being written off. Sure, it still rankles me when people automatically turn to my husband, assuming he is the one in charge of our business.

But, I now think of it as a my secret weapon. Those things I’m underestimated for – they are what make me strong. When someone underestimates me, they give me a chance, a challenge and an opportunity to surprise them. Surprise always makes people pay attention.

When I gracefully redirect financial questions about our practice from my husband, I’m first met with surprise. But, that’s my opening and it’s one they will remember much more so than if their notion had been correct and my husband was in charge.

Being underestimated fueled my work ethic and taught me to win over people who doubted me. At our annual ophthalmology conference recently, another ophthalmologist told me “you’re a hard person to say no to.” That was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. Because that didn’t come naturally, it came with years of proving my worth – first to myself, then to others.

There is freedom in being underestimated and in being unique. I now view it as a gift.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Pinnacle was created from a joint passion to support women in medicine. The original founders met via social media and quickly aligned with a similar mission and goal. What started as a small idea was quickly put into action to become reality. Pinnacle held their first conference in 2019 and it was truly life-changing for everyone who participated. Pinnacle has continued to follow their mission and make Pinnacle Conference bigger and better each year.

Pinnacle is the first multi-specialty organization specifically dedicated to giving professional women in medical settings the tools needed to succeed in medicine. Pinnacle is the only organization dedicated to addressing the challenges that ALL women in healthcare face. Pinnacle empowers women in medicine through education, community, and actionable strategies for both the practice and business of medicine.

At Pinnacle, you will connect with women in medicine who are pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Imagine a room where women are uplifting other women, sharing their secrets to success, and encouraging you to reach your full potential. When you join Pinnacle, you have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, you are allowed to see the side of medicine that we were all told did not exist: support, community, guidance, and an integration of personal and professional life.

Each year we work tirelessly to create an event that is more than a medical conference. Join Pinnacle next year May 16-18. 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Community, Leadership, and Medicine

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

Pinnacle Conference is for ALL women in medicine to share ideas, set intentions, and create actionable strategies to achieve professional success. No matter if you are a practice owner or employed, you will reflect on your professional goals. No matter what field of medicine you are in, where you live, what you do, or what sparks your fire, the content of each Pinnacle event is carefully crafted to bring you exactly what you need.

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Image Credits

Angela Doran

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