Meet Florence Rothenberg

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

Hi Florence, 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?
I went to elementary school in a 1950’s-inspired steel and green metal public school in a small urban neighborhood in Queens, NY. I had long straight red hair and bangs, and was so small I was told that I might blow away in a stiff breeze. One of the things I enjoyed most was helping my classmates. If I saw someone having a hard time with a project, I offered help. I remember doing this as early as kindergarten. I loved the feeling of knowing I helped someone. Knowing that there was always something I could do to help, even if it was simply listening, made real my self-worth. No matter what others might have thought about me, I always knew I had value. When I am judged for how I look (which still happens as a woman in medicine, particularly academic medicine), my belief in myself helps me see past the occasion and keep moving forward. Sometimes I do get dispirited, of course. During those times I do something to restore my health – maybe take a walk, have a healthy meal, call a friend, family, or try to make someone laugh. There is always something you can do that adds something good to the world.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
It has always been obvious that my patients who have access to healthy food and exercise are much more resilient in the face of illness than my patients who do not have access to healthy food and exercise. I tried to address this disparity from my position within the medical system, but there were many obstacles that just could not be overcome from that perspective. The Barbershop Trial (NEJM 2018) showed me the power that community can have on improving the health of its neighbors, and inspired me to do the work I am doing in Northside. Being in the community I am working to support allows me to understand the difficulties people have as a neighbor and a friend. This allows me to truly understand obstacles to health in a way not possible otherwise, and to develop solutions in a way I couldn’t as a physician in a hospital, and that are unique to the community.

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?
I mentioned earlier that always knowing there was something I could do to help was an early insight that helped me believe in myself. Second, I grew up in a time and place that required self-reliance, therefore it took me a long time to realize that other people wanted to help me, also. I reach out to others for support much sooner than I had in the past, but it’s still something I am working on to this day. My family and friends remind me that I am always connected. Lastly, I believe that growing up in a poor neighborhood allows me to truly understand the difficulties people have taking care of their health. Whether they realize it or not, wealthy people have time, access, and many choices they can make to benefit their health. Poor people have none of these, and often must make choices that harm their health just to get through a day, and are judged harshly. They do not want to make that choice, but they don’t think they have other options. I have lived this, and saw my family suffer because of the lessons poverty taught us. the advice I would give someone else sounds trite and cliche, but there is truth in trying to see the world through the eyes of someone else. When I am in a difficult situation or conversation, I try to imagine being the other person, or I imagine this person is part of my family. It opens up and changes everything.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Having spent my entire career in science and medicine, fundraising is not something that comes naturally but is essential to the success of this work. Every day I have to remind myself to ask for help, work to learn new things, and go outside of my comfort zone. As challenging as this has been, I have met many marvelous and inspiring people who remind me that the world can be wonderful if we make it so.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Drone and wedding photos: Alison Ford

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