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Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women in the U.S., even though they are diagnosed with the disease at lower rates. For Cheshire Medical Center resident physician Betsy Assoumou, MD, MBA, this alarming statistic is personal. Born in Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa and raised in western Massachusetts, she watched her mother battle breast cancer for a decade, ultimately dying from her disease in 2016. As a child, Dr. Assoumou dreamed of becoming a physician, but initially pursued a career in accounting instead. Losing her mother prompted her to change careers in her early 30s and pursue her dream. Now 37, she's a member of Cheshire's first family medicine residency cohort. As she told The Keene Sentinel it's her way of honoring her mom's memory and doing her part to improve public health. “That was sort of the torch I lifted, in a way, to remember my mom, but also [to] be the thing she always wanted me to be, which is a doctor,” Dr. Assoumou said. “I wish someone had been there from the beginning for my mom to help her prioritizing her health because she was prioritizing education, striving, making a living. And I felt like ... the biggest impact I could have was just from the beginning, doing things that prevent a disease from happening.” https://bit.ly/4dUIUwM

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Leslie Simon

ExecutiveRespiratory Biologics Specialty Sales Representative, AstraZeneca

1mo

I’m sorry that happened to your mom. I bet you will do great things with your degree. Nothing like personal circumstances to light a fire for you in medicine.

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Tim Burdick MD MBA MSc

Consulting services in healthcare innovation, tech, and research

1mo

So great to have Family Medicine residents at Dartmouth Health again after a 20-year hiatus!

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