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| Welcome to Wesleyan Weekend |
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Stephanie Lannie Russ-Barber, M.D. ’95
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A.B. Biology and Chemistry, Wesleyan College
When Stephanie Russ-Barber was eight years old, she decided to become a children’s doctor. "I remember walking out of my pediatrician’s office in Douglas, Georgia, mesmerized by the instruments, the people, and the doctor/child interaction and informing my parents, ‘I want to be a doctor and help babies.’" said Russ-Barber, a magna cum laude graduate of Wesleyan. "Since then, no other challenge, ambition, or career option has replaced what I decided to become, and now, some twenty years later, my dreams are coming true. A part of that is due to Wesleyan College."
Russ-Barber grew up as one of four children on a farm in south Georgia. From her family and community, she learned to value what is right and to strive to be her best. "These virtues paid off as I was fortunate enough to be rewarded scholarship offers from Wesleyan. I would not have had the same opportunities in life had it not been for the institution’s investment in me," said Russ-Barber, who was a recipient of the IBM Technology Scholarship for Excellence in Chemistry as an undergraduate student. "In a great way, Wesleyan became my pathway to fulfill those dreams I had since I was a child."
Upon graduation from Wesleyan, Russ-Barber earned an M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia and completed her medical internship and pediatric residency at the University of Florida's Shands Hospital, in Gainesville, Florida. She returned to Douglas, Georgia and set up her own pediatric practice, The Kid Doctor, where she treated patients for several years until she and her husband moved to South Carolina. According to this alumna, Wesleyan provided the valuable opportunities she needed to receive a hands-on, active education.
"My advisors inquired about and understood my life objectives and goal of becoming a pediatrician. The faculty helped me by offering challenging courses and labs and issuing difficult -- yet not impossible -- assignments," she said. "They provided opportunities to increase my knowledge of subjects by offering specialized and individual attention. They helped propel my desire to learn and grow as a student."
Crediting Wesleyan’s internship program with helping prepare her for her career, she said, "I took advantage of the opportunity to work at Oak Ridge National Laboratories and at the Mercer Medical School. These non-classroom learning experiences gave me ‘real life’ chances to take part in relevant research while also providing team-oriented learning environments. Wesleyan knew the advantages this cutting-edge experience would generate for me."
Aside from academic pursuits, the sisterhood experience in a small single gender environment provides bonds many students remember long into their alumnae days. Russ-Barber claimed her most lasting friendships were established while she was at Wesleyan.
"As roommates and friends, we all experienced an important time of life together and we will remain close the rest of our lives," she said. "Although my closest friends and I now live in different parts of the country, are at various stages of family life, and are at different points in our careers, we still hold true to the fact that once you’re a Pioneer, you’re always a Pioneer. And for those of us blessed to be Golden Hearts, it is a special bond that keeps us together."
Currently, Russ-Barber is practicing with the Children's Medical Center, a pediatric group in Tifton, Georgia, just one hour from her hometown of Douglas. Her husband serves as the Chief Development Officer at ABAC. Together, they balance roles of busy professionals and parents of their three children -- Bennett, Laney-Gracyn, and Brooks. |
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