Dr. Sharon Horesh
Internal Medicine, Emory Healthcare

Early life experiences
Who do you know who was born in Teheran, Iran, had to flee her native country at the age of eight years old with her family because of threats of religious persecution, came to the US barely able to read or write in English, ultimately graduated valedictorian of her high school, was accepted everywhere she applied for college including Yale, and then went on to graduate from the Harvard Medical School?

Well, you may not know her, but this is a synopsis of Sharon Horesh's life - now DR. Sharon Horesh of Atlanta, GA. She definitely has some unique life experiences worth sharing. She also qualities as a true SHEro - a role model in her field and a woman of achievement, one who has just begun to make her mark in the healthcare arena.

1979 - the last year of Sharon's young life as a Jewish girl in Iran was spent secluded with her family at home, protected from the revolution that was taking place in the country around her. Up to that point, her father was involved in manufacturing parts for Toyota and her mother was a housewife. Natually, Sharon's persona was heavily influenced by the culture that surrounded her as part of a third world country. Survival and practical skills were the primary concerns and for females, learning to cook, clean, and take care of their families was essential.

Forced to leave their country for their safety and freedom, Sharon's parents brought her and her brother to Atlanta where they would have to begin their lives again, almost from scratch. And they did. They also taught their children that they must take personal responsibility to overcome any potential cultural obstacles they may encounter

"I couldn't really read or write in English and could barely understand the language when I entered school. It made me very shy. But having had a strong inclination towards math and science, I naturally excelled in those classes. Going to Westminster Schools, a private Christian preparatory school for my secondary education was a challenging but great experience which helped to prepare me for the road ahead," she said.

Education paves the way
Choosing Yale for undergraduate work, Sharon found she was very well prepared as a freshman and was able to start with sophomore level science classes. By this point in her life, she enjoyed the opportunity to express herself in expository writing and grew to love the English courses that were once so difficult for her. Although writing papers still wasn't second nature to her, some were even entered into essay contests by her professors. She very much enjoyed her classmates and found Yale to be a tremendous environment for personal growth outside the culture within which she was raised

In 1993, having decided to pursue a medical career, Sharon was admitted by Harvard and chose to attend the medical school there. Sharon found the school and Boston to be quite diverse. She also found that women pursing higher education or a professional career were easily accepted. Interestingly, by the time she graduated from Harvard, women outnumbered white men in the new entering class.

"For me, Harvard was an amazing academic learning experience…I was like a kid in a candy store, with endless opportunities to pursue professional interests," Sharon said. It was also a highly competitive and intense environment with a brilliant faculty and student body. As one of the top medical schools in the country, expectations and standards were natually high.

During her medical school and post-graduate training, Sharon said her life was "all work." Presented the opportunity to continue her training in the Boston area after graduation, she decided to stay. The decision paid off, according to Sharon

Putting training into practice
"I received an extraordinary clinical training experience and, as a result, I had a head start when I came to Atlanta several years later to start practicing. I felt completely comfortable. Boston had been deeply immersed in the managed care revolution during my years in New England and I had trained in an era when changes in healthcare delivery and economics were impacting clinical care. I became very interested in understanding the health care system. When I moved to Atlanta, I was very familiar with the changes the Atlanta market was going through and the economic pressures facing physicians here in the South."

In Atlanta for two years now and working with Emory Healthcare, how does Dr. Horesh feel about her career and her life to date? "I'm very happy here, both personally and professionally. Working as part of a large organization offers tremendous resources, opportunities, and benefits. As physicians, we have a lot of support dealing with managed care, we can choose to teach or do research in addition to clinical care, or continue learning through the tuition waiver for campus courses. Many women working with the organization have the flexibility of working part time to balance work and home responsibilities."

"Nevertheless, the financial side of healthcare has become increasingly challenging," Sharon points out candidly. "No doubt, one that my primary job for Emory is to produce revenue while I'm delivering top quality medical treatment. At this time, I feel both of these missions can be fulfilled. I'm committed to maintaining a high level of customer service and I even facilitate a course to physician colleagues on the topic."

As busy as Sharon is - and her work days typically start at 7 a.m. and can go until 7 p.m. - she feels she has ample time for her family, friends, and personal interests. She sees her parents frequently, who also live in Atlanta, and spends much of her "down" time with her boyfriend. She also likes to cook creatively, go hiking, and work out regularly. Asked about future plans, she said, "Sure, I expect to get married and have children. That's a part of my culture and how I was raised. Fortunately, I see no conflict with being a doctor and having a successful life as a wife and mother. In some ways, I probably have it easier than women in other professions."

Often she is asked by her patients, "What would be your advice to a young girl who thinks she wants to become a doctor?" Her response: "People glamorize the profession sometimes and are drawn to medicine in the hopes of 'making a difference.' The reality is that it is a day-to-day job just like other jobs…whether you work at Walmart or whatever. There are difficult people to deal with on occasions, lots of administrative work, and running an office requires business skills to be truly effective. You just need to be aware that this goes with the profession, and if a young woman realizes this and still wants to go to medical school, then I say, 'GO for it!' We certainly need women doctors."

Having met Dr. Horesh, one thing seems certain. Physicians like her are a credit to the profession and represent the best in female role models. Her patients rave about how she makes them feel - like they're the only patient of the day - and about her willingness to answer their questions in detail and share research and the latest information available.

What's also special about this doctor is her attitude, especially about overcoming obstacles. Who does she blame for the difficulties she and her family had to overcome as Jews in Iran?? Absolutely no one. "Each individual must take responsibility for himself / herself and overcoming obstacles is just a part of life."

This philosophy is exactly what a good leader should model. Emory Healthcare and her patients are fortunate indeed to have Dr. Horesh. Down the road, it's her ultimate goal to leave the overall healthcare system better and more efficient than she found it. It's a good bet that she'll do that and more.

 

By Susan B. Hitchcock
Creator of The Age of SHEroes
VP-Client Services, Turknett Leadership Group
October, 2002

 

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