Meet Okeefe Simmons, MD

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Okeefe Simmons, MD a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Okeefe, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being one of one, or one of a handful of black students/doctors in the room is not something new. This started with advanced classes before college, then continued during pre-med undergraduate coursework and medical school. Since then, the number of people who look like me continued to dwindle as I became more specialized.

With this in mind, I learned to be successful by considering the past, present, and future. I have used negative racial comments directed towards me in academic settings as a chip on my shoulder to further fuel my desire to succeed and prove doubters wrong. As a practicing physician, I enjoy the positive interactions with patients from all backgrounds who tell me how proud they are to see a black doctor doing well in Miami. Consideration of the future is rooted in mentorship of future healthcare professionals – my younger family members, younger colleagues throughout my educational journey, and currently with medical trainees – who have an easily accessible, supportive doctor who looks like them.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a physician specializing in non-surgical weight loss and owner of Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions. Regarding my training, I am triple board-certified and the first triple fellowship trained physician in bariatric endoscopy, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology in the country.

The unique aspect of Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions are the options offered to our patients. This is not an office where everyone gets 1 or 2 injectable options and then our team crosses our fingers, hoping that it works. I had dedicated clinical training to learn about injectable medications extensively, but also about pill options, bariatric endoscopy (non-surgical procedures), and the lifestyle changes that have to accompany any weight loss effort. Compared to surgical options, bariatric endoscopy is a relatively new, less invasive area where patients undergo a non-surgical procedure with fewer associated risks, shorter recovery time, and they get to go home the same day. Examples of bariatric endoscopy procedures include the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, endoscopic revision of prior bariatric surgery (offered to patients who regained weight after bariatric surgery), and the gastric balloon.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Creativity and thinking outside of the box can come with risks, but ultimately can help to curate a more fulfilling career. I envisioned the career that I wanted and reached out to different programs to see how my training program could be structured to best prepare me to serve patients seeking alternatives to bariatric surgery for weight loss. Ultimately my fellowship mentors at the University of Southern California and Cornell Medicine encouraged this creativity, and helped me become the first physician in the country to complete gastroenterology, bariatric endoscopy, and obesity medicine fellowships.

Balance is often overlooked, but an important component to preserve mental clarity and prevent burnout. I recommend taking time outside of studying, clinical training, and work. Personally I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and playing sports (soccer, running, beach volleyball tend to be my choices).

At the same time, it is important to focus on your goals. I encourage those who I mentor to periodically reassess where they are in life, what non-productive items may be taking up too much time/energy/resources, and what actionable steps are needed to get where they want to be.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My Caribbean parents came to Florida and raised four first generation college graduates. My parents have always believed in me and emphasized the importance of a solid educational foundation. They always told me and my siblings that no one could take away our education and credentials. During medical school, I realized that they did not completely understand exactly what I signed up for. But as I explained why I was still studying for three separate standardized tests in medical school, the difference between a residency and a fellowship, and why I decided to do 3 fellowships, their belief in me never wavered. This is because they were confident that they had instilled the fundamental elements to become successful, regardless of the academic or professional endeavor.

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