Dr. McGregorDr. Carlton McGregor, an internist and pulmonary (lung diseases) specialist who has been living in Washington Heights and practicing medicine there since he finished Harvard Medical School years ago, tells us why he became a doctor and the challenges he faced along the way.

Q: What made you want to become a doctor?
A: Growing up, I had asthma. My mother used to take me to see many different types of specialists. There was one specialist I went to in Harlem, Dr. Patrick, who I saw helping lots of different people. When I saw this, I decided that I wanted to become a doctor to be able to help as many people as Dr. Patrick did. God helped me complete that goal and become the doctor I am today.

Q: Was there anything that you had to overcome on your way to becoming a doctor?
A: It's definitely hard to be a Black student studying medicine, even today. Medical school itself is hard with some areas where grading is subjective. Interpersonal skills are highly desired since you are graded on how you interview people, how you react to people, and respond to unique situations. I was fortunate because growing up in New York City, I was able to interact with people from different backgrounds and learn how to relate to all of them.

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board