OB/GYN HELPS WOMEN UNDERSTAND THEIR BODIES

Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald is an OB/GYN and the author of “Stethoscope Dreams: How I Was Formed.” PHOTO PROVIDED BY MYWHY AGENCY.
Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald is an OB/GYN and the author of “Stethoscope Dreams: How I Was Formed.” PHOTO PROVIDED BY MYWHY AGENCY.

OB/GYN HELPS WOMEN UNDERSTAND THEIR BODIES

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald was able to see an example of what she wanted to be when she was growing up. Her friend’s mother was an OB/GYN.

McDonald’s recently released “Stethoscope Dreams: How I was Formed.” It is the fourth book she has published and the second in the Stethoscope Dreams series. The books follow Journei, a 9-year-old girl who knows all about her body and likes to share information with her younger brother. In “Stethoscope Dreams: How I was Formed,” Journei’s mother
is pregnant, which lends itself to teaching children about the
parts of the body. The third book, “Stethoscope Dreams: The
Multitude of Stethoscopes,” will go into all the different health
professions.

McDonald came up with the idea for a toy that would allow children to learn about the human body and its functions. She turned that idea into a book to teach people about their bodies. She wanted to provide the kind of education for children that she received as a child. One thing McDonald points out is that “Stethoscope Dreams: How I Was Formed” does show anatomy, including reproductive organs.

“Studies show children knowing anatomy, it not only educates, it informs them and helps them to live healthier and safer lives for themselves, but it also can, in instances, protect against certain sexual predators, who may capitalize on people not knowing what what is; and saying these pet names and words and being able to take advantage of people,” McDonald said.

McDonald hopes people who read the books are able to
get comfortable with the human body. The bonus for her is that people are inspired by the characters, who are all Black, and are inspired to go into the healthcare field.

McDonald has also written “It Smells Just Like Popcorn:
The Modern Woman’s A to V Guide to Her Vagina and Beyond,” and “Welp, I Guess I’m In Charge of My Health Now.”

McDonald also uses her Instagram, @dreverywoman, to
educate people. It is something that brings her joy, because
social media can be entertaining.

“You can use that entertainment to pull on people’s heartstrings, talk about things that is really messed up in society or you can use it to laugh and really enjoy yourself. I try to spin healthcare into that ‘enjoy yourself’ space,” McDonald said, adding that she tries to figure out how to infuse something educational into something she enjoys, it is a bonus that other people enjoy it, too.

McDonald is hoping to grow her social media channel.
She launched her first course related to pregnancy, which ties into Black maternal health. The course takes a step-by-step approach. McDonald is still a practicing OB/GYN. She wants to spin an educational space that addresses people’s concerns.

McDonald believes that one reason for health disparities
is that there are discrepancies in the number of healthcare
professionals of color caring for people of color. She wants to
see more people of color go into the healthcare field. That is
something she wants to see happen sooner rather than later.

“If I didn’t know a Black OB/GYN, I promise you I
wouldn’t be an OB/GYN. I had to know her to even think that
was a possibility,” McDonald said.

For more information about Dr. McDonald, visit dreverywoman. com.

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