Hey there. I started to say "Well, Grady Doctor is. . ." but then I realized how weird it is when people speak of themselves in the third person. Instead, let's keep this simple, shall we?
My name is Kimberly Manning, MD. I'm an academic internist (though trained/boarded in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics) on the Emory University School of Medicine faculty. Although my Pediatrics is now relegated to removing splinters from my little ones' fingers, I'm definitely still a kid-doctor at heart.
I have the distinct pleasure of teaching, caring, learning, laughing, crying and growing at one of the largest public hospitals in the United States -- Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. People and patients at indigent care hospitals are so often misunderstood. I know firsthand how remarkable the people are inside these walls. They are more than homelessness. They are more than substance abuse. They are more than public assistance. They are human beings with hopes, dreams and lives uniquely their own.
It's all Grady. . . .
In a nutshell, I love Grady Hospital for reasons too numerous to count. . . . .but the best part? I love working here because every day I truly believe that I am walking in my purpose. Do you ever do something and feel intensely like it's totally what you were born to do? Do you? I sure hope you do. Because that's how I feel about my life as a clinician-educator at Grady Hospital. I really do. (Don't worry--it's okay if that made you heave a little bit. . . . .)
These are amalgamations of very much true stories that have unfolded over nearly a decade. One part may have happened in 2001, another in 2005, and another just yesterday. Some may have happened when I was a resident in Ohio or a college student in Alabama. Either way, I always mix it all up to protect anonymity (please see the page on HIPAA and such.)
With all stories that I tell, I usually ask three simple questions:
Is it kind?
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
All three answers must be yes. And know that there is kindness inside of important lessons. Every lesson I share is one I'm trying to get for myself, too.
Why is this called "Reflections of a Grady Doctor?"
First, I'm a Grady doctor--duh! Second, I'm what I like to call a "habitual reflector" who reflects upon everything I see in the hospital, in the world, and in my life. I reflect on what people say and what people do. . .and then I reflect on what I've reflected upon, and after that, I reflect on that, too. For that reason, I appreciate every person's story and seek to understand the whys behind every experience God brings my way. Writing is a way of exploring these things.
Team Manning
I'm married to an exceptional human being named Harry (also known on this blog as "The BHE" or best husband ever) and together we have two hilarious little boys named Isaiah and Zachary. Harry is my hero, and often times the voice of reason when I am being neurotic (as I often am.) Beyond being a mom and wife, I'm a daughter, a sister, a friend, a believer, a crier, and a work in progress. My goal is to be present--really present--in this life as much as I can.
I believe in balance. I believe in giving flowers to the living. I believe in honoring people by sharing the lessons I learn from them. I believe in paying homage and paying attention. I am thankful for being blessed with the opportunity to have my life enriched by a place like Grady Hospital. I am thankful for a job I love, a family life that works in concert with my career, and for not being forced to choose between the two.
I am thankful for being me. . . . .and I'm also thankful that you're reading. I really am.