From the age of five, Dr. Jessica Mendelsohn knew her calling was medicine. Her childhood declaration to her parents wasn’t just a passing fancy, but a profound insight into her future path. “I always knew it’s what I wanted to do,” she reflects. “I think it’s in my blood.”
An Unexpected Pathway to Medicine
No one in her immediate family worked in traditional medical roles. With only a younger cousin who is a nurse, her inspiration came from a less conventional exposure to healthcare. This unconventional background didn’t deter her; instead, it fueled her determination to carve her own path in the medical field.
The Heart of Healthcare: Human Connection
At the core of Dr. Mendelsohn’s practice is a profound belief in human connection. “The people,” she emphasizes, are the most rewarding aspect of her work. Her approach goes beyond traditional medical care, focusing on partnership rather than simply “fixing” health issues. “We’re able to talk to the public, learn their stories, understand what’s going on with their health, and be able to work with them as partners towards better health,” she explains.
Reimagining Primary Care
Dr. Mendelsohn’s direct primary care practice, New South Family Medicine and MedSpa, represents a radical departure from traditional healthcare models. By eliminating insurance companies from the equation, she’s created a patient-centered approach that prioritizes individual care over bureaucratic constraints. “Patients pay us directly, and we are not involved with an insurance company or third-party paying us,” she explains.
This model allows for deeper patient relationships, longer visits, and a more personalized approach to healthcare. Her ultimate goal is ambitious: to demonstrate a better way of practicing medicine and receiving healthcare in the primary care space.
Navigating Professional Challenges
Dr. Mendelsohn is candid about the additional challenges women face in the medical profession. “As a woman in healthcare, as a woman physician, our thought process is different,” she observes. “We have to perhaps work a little bit harder than our male colleagues to get to the same place.”
Her strategy for overcoming these challenges is rooted in a growth mindset. She views obstacles not as insurmountable barriers, but as opportunities for learning and growth. “Either you succeed, or you learn,” she says.
Blending Personal and Professional Life
Contrary to traditional notions of work-life balance, Dr. Mendelsohn sees her professional and personal lives as deeply interconnected. “There is no balance,” she candidly shares. Instead, she focuses on being present in the most important moment at hand, whether that’s responding to her children’s needs or addressing a patient’s health concerns.
She even involves her family in her professional journey, making her practice “part of our family” and using it as an opportunity to teach her children about community impact and professional dedication.
A Lifelong Learning Journey
Dr. Mendelsohn credits her current success to the cumulative experiences throughout her career. Opening her practice without prior business experience was daunting, but her previous work in large healthcare systems provided crucial insights. “I don’t know that I would have had the understanding on a more global aspect of what influence I can have in healthcare if I hadn’t gone through all of that prior,” she reflects.
Message to the Next Generation
Her advice to young professionals, especially women in healthcare, is profound: “Don’t lose sight of all the incredible things that you are.” She encourages embracing multiple facets of identity, recognizing that a career in healthcare is important, but not the sole definition of one’s self.
Wisdom for Her Younger Self
If she could send a message to her younger self, it would be: “Don’t change a thing, and don’t think so far into the future that you miss the present.” She emphasizes the importance of pausing, breathing, and acknowledging one’s accomplishments along the way.
The Power of Perseverance
Dr. Jessica Mendelsohn’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and purpose. Her story demonstrates that success is not about avoiding challenges, but about learning, adapting, and remaining committed to your passion.
“In the words of Robyn Arzon, ‘You’ve made it through 100% of your bad days.’” To Jessica, this resonates as a powerful reminder of human resilience and the potential for growth, even in the face of significant obstacles.
By sharing her story, Dr. Mendelsohn isn’t just inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals – she’s actively reshaping the landscape of patient care, one patient and one practice at a time.