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When people think of the qualities that make an excellent physician, they may not think of artistic talent. Dr. Gbemisola Johnson reminds us that passion for art and for healing can coexist to produce an outstanding doctor. From her early days as a health science student to her current role as a Family Medicine physician, she has consistently blended creativity with compassion. As she wraps up her residency in St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Johnson is set to return to Trinity School of Medicine—this time as a keynote speaker, ready to inspire the next generation of physicians at the September 2024 White Coat Ceremony.
What sets Dr. Johnson apart is her unique approach to medicine, where art isn’t just a hobby but a vital tool for healing. As a mixed-media visual artist, she’s on a mission to merge her two passions—art and medicine—into a transformative practice that benefits both patients and healthcare providers alike. Through her business, Created by Sola, she is making art accessible and fun by providing original pieces, prints, and art therapy kits for people to destress at home and on the go. “Art is medicine whether it’s through creation or admiration. I am here to show you how to maximize your health in the most holistic way!”
We recently sat down with Dr. Johnson to hear more about her journey, her motivation, and her future, and to get some advice for our newest cohort.
What’s your academic background?
I attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia for my undergrad training. I was a health science major in a pre-med track with an art minor.
What brought you into medicine?
I let myself wander into anything I was interested in. Pure curiosity for the human body and being able to manipulate it for good is what drew me to medicine. The human aspect is what keeps me passionate about it, connecting with different people and being able to impact their lives is important and is what keeps me excited each day.
Where did you match?
I’m finishing up my training as a Chief Family Medicine Resident at the HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital.
Why was HCA one of your top choices?
Ultimately because of the location. St. Petersburg is beautiful and I just felt a very comforting vibe when I visited the program. It simply felt like a really tight-knit community among the residents and program director.
What is a typical day like as a Family Medicine resident?
Outpatient clinic life: I go in around 8 AM and always grab breakfast from the hospital because you have to fill your cup up first. Then I will chart review and prep for the day until my first patient at 8:30. I look at the reason they’re coming in, study any conditions I’m unfamiliar with, and look up new treatments and recommendations. Then once my patients have been roomed by the medical assistant I’ll go in and see them. Luckily, I get to spend as long as I want in the rooms since I’m a resident. I chat about life, get to the real meat of the issues, and offer insight on staying well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle before getting sick. For lunch hour at 12, I’ll head to the hospital and meet up with coworker friends or go to TJ Max for retail therapy. Afternoon patients tend to go by quickly. I may do physicals, sick visits, pre-op clearances, investigative some wild phenomenon, or a quick procedure. I can insert birth control, inject and aspirate joints, remove soft tissue masses, and perform full-body skin biopsies to name a few. I remove impacted ear wax all the time and honestly love giving patients the ability to hear significantly better instantly. I also hope to continue learning wound care so I can incorporate that into my future practice.
Life looks a bit different on the inpatient hospital medicine side. Family medicine doctors are hospitalists who spend 7 days on 7 days off caring for up to 25 acutely ill patients. Your day starts at 7 AM when you receive a sign-out from the night team. You grab breakfast and chart review your patients to get updated on overnight events, new labs, vitals, and imaging. Then, you round on all your patients and formulate a plan of care for the day. You meet with your attending and round again with them and present your findings. Then it’s lunchtime, you eat while you work on notes and wait for new admissions all day. Usually, you’re done around 7 PM when you sign out to the night squad.
How has your passion for art supported you in residency?
My passion for art has supported me in residency by allowing me a safe space to organize and express my emotions. It serves as one of my favorite outlets and has been a fun one to share. I look forward to coming home and working on a piece or grabbing a canvas and setting it up by the lake and allowing music and nature to lead my creation. Sometimes I find myself waking up in the middle of the night and painting through until it is time to leave for work. Having another passion other than medicine is purely exciting. It has also allowed me to use arts as the foundation for my quality projects and research. Creating the Art Cart for patients to utilize in the hospital has been an inclusive way to bridge the two.
Life looks a bit different on the inpatient hospital medicine side. Family medicine doctors are hospitalists who spend 7 days on 7 days off caring for up to 25 acutely ill patients. Your day starts at 7 AM when you receive a sign-out from the night team. You grab breakfast and chart review your patients to get updated on overnight events, new labs, vitals, and imaging. Then, you round on all your patients and formulate a plan of care for the day. You meet with your attending and round again with them and present your findings. Then it’s lunchtime, you eat while you work on notes and wait for new admissions all day. Usually, you’re done around 7 PM when you sign out to the night squad.
Why did you choose Trinity and what ultimately helped you make the decision?
I’d say my first choice was a Caribbean medical school. I knew the route I wanted to go. Logistically and economically it made sense. I wasn’t concerned that I wasn’t going to succeed, I just needed to find a school that was accredited and had all the tools for me to succeed. I applied to more Caribbean schools than I did to American schools. I knew in undergrad I was going to a Caribbean school. It was a very relaxing decision for me and I’m a woman of faith so it was a spiritual decision as well.
With Trinity, it’s in the name, it’s in the foundation. We share the same values and beliefs. I chose Trinity because it was small and I felt like I could get that connection with the faculty and with the students. When I was interviewing and just getting general information, the overall vibe was we don’t compete with each other, we help each other and I liked that. I liked that they had good numbers to back that support up too. People were passing their Step exams and people were matching, they had enough clinical spots for students, they had their accreditations and they weren’t up for review. I think those factors alone allowed me to choose Trinity and be confident in that decision. Trinity was also very open that they weren’t a Big Four and that they didn’t want to become a Big Four. Now, 4 or 5 years later, those big four have dropped off in terms of their reputation for whatever reason so I think I liked the fact that Trinity was transparent. They weren’t trying to be the biggest and the baddest, they wanted to be the best in producing quality physicians.
Life looks a bit different on the inpatient hospital medicine side. Family medicine doctors are hospitalists who spend 7 days on 7 days off caring for up to 25 acutely ill patients. Your day starts at 7 AM when you receive a sign-out from the night team. You grab breakfast and chart review your patients to get updated on overnight events, new labs, vitals, and imaging. Then, you round on all your patients and formulate a plan of care for the day. You meet with your attending and round again with them and present your findings. Then it’s lunchtime, you eat while you work on notes and wait for new admissions all day. Usually, you’re done around 7 PM when you sign out to the night squad.
What was the transition like from where you moved, compared to living on the island and studying abroad?
I was maybe a little nervous because I was starting something new, but my parents went with me so that was a nice smooth transition. Honestly, I felt more comfortable there than I did in the States. I was around people who looked like me for the first time all the time. I felt safe. I felt like I could be myself. I would go to the grocery store and I would hear a song that I would enjoy being played over the loud speaker instead of some dry instrumental. I love the island, it’s maybe one of my favorite places in the world. Whatever nerves I had from being in a new space, they were gone the second I landed.
What are the clerkships (rotations) like at Trinity?
They were good quality rotations. I sat down with the preceptors 1-on-1 just because there were only a few of us in clinical at the Georgia site. We had their attention, we had their cell phone numbers, we had their time. We were going into all the procedures with them and we were First Assists on everything. We were rounding on them and writing notes. We were being treated like residents, honestly because we could be, they had the space and the time and we had the numbers to do that. Overall it helped prepare me for residency as a critical thinker. There were some solid long-lasting relationships and mentorships formed. Being a part of that early group was very helpful. It was a very lovely experience overall.
Did you feel supported throughout your education at Trinity?
Yes! I felt extremely supported. This was probably the first time that I did feel supported from my academic institution. I had advisors that were like “Yeah, you can do this. Just start working out and drinking more water and have a study plan and do this and you’ll be fine.” It was the first time someone gave study tips and actually helped me succeed. I was able to find my groove and find a way to study. I didn’t know how to study until I got to medical school. My best academic performance was in medical school. I know it’s because of the interest and because I felt that support, whether from my advisors, classmates, the deans, faculty, or just the island in general. I feel like by just being there, I was able to focus on what really mattered.
Do you have any stand-out memories, stories, or experiences regarding your time at Trinity?
Yes! I participated in Carnival in St. Vincent so that was fun. I also enjoyed being on the island and integrating with the community. Traveling and venturing beyond Trinity was important to me. Exploring was fun and I have lasting memories of many nights there. I also used to host Paint and Sip events in the cafeteria and we’d have a lot of fun.
What are you doing for fun these days?
I’m painting, traveling, experiencing the world, hanging out with friends and my dog, enjoying nature, and playing pickleball with my coworkers. St. Petersburg has a lot to offer; it’s a very creative community with booming young professionals.
What are your future plans?
I am going into outpatient primary care. I’m going to incorporate procedures and wound care weekly. The goal is to stay in St.Petersburg and see what else God has in store.
Are you excited to come back to Trinity as a keynote speaker for the White Coat Ceremony?
I’m super excited to go back. I haven’t been back since I left so I’m excited to see the people and just be back home in a sense so yes, I’m looking forward to it.
What’s the best advice you’d share with a prospective Trinity student?
Med school was amazing but it was also one of the hardest times ever for many reasons. People say that all the time but they don’t ever tell you why or how. It’s academic but it’s also mental and emotional. You’re leaving the country to go do a thing for two years. It’s going to be tough so having support is extremely important, whether that’s one person on the island or the couple of people back home. I think realizing that it’s going to be a tough mental rollercoaster journey but probably the best one you’ve ever gotten on is important and to just keep pushing through.
Another thing I always say is to hold on to your passion. Don’t feel like you have to drop it. If anything, fall deeper into it at this time. During medical school, you shouldn’t feel like you need to stop playing any instruments, or you need to stop painting, or you need to stop singing. Find time for MMA, find time to work out, find time to do yoga, or have a book club, because those are the things that will keep you going.
If you’re interested in learning how Trinity can support your dream of becoming a doctor, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team today! Contact us here.
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