“And she also understands people in a way nobody else does. Why they do certain things, if they’re hiding something, what they want—you know, all that insight about human nature that you can’t really teach.” Suhani smiles as she thinks of how much she’s always enjoyed Mom’s social commentary, whether it came from a place of curiosity or was straight-up gossip. “Anyway, if I do become chief, I want to start some initiatives that can have a big impact, maybe shift the way certain things have been done in the field.”

“How so?” Dr. Wilson asks.

Suhani’s heart rate increases as she tells herself to go for it. Make the pitch. Show Dr. Wilson that she’s thought this through and is the best person for the job. “I’ve been looking into the barriers that hold women back from getting mental health treatment. One of the biggest hindrances is the lack of research around how different events, like menstruation or childbirth, play a role. I worked to create the partnership with the ob-gyn clinic because I realized some of those patients avoid psychiatrists when they really could be helped by one. And I’m glad residents are able to learn from a variety of cases, but I think we can take that partnership one step further.”

“Meaning?” Dr. Wilson raises an eyebrow with interest.

“I think we should see if our residents can provide counseling to the ob-gyn patients who need it. There’s a lack of interventions for the parts of women’s mental health that are less understood, whether it’s the emotional changes in the postpartum period or the psychological scars of abuse or the potential impacts of birth control. I’m worried we are missing the chance to see patients during their stressful times because what they’re going through is just put in the category of ‘women’s issues.’”

She’s taken back to that first meeting she had with her dean in med school. It was a struggle to just get out of bed, let alone dress up, and finally say what she had been ignoring for weeks. How did she not know then that something was wrong with her? She was nauseated the entire time she sat in that stiff, low chair, from where she could see the parking lot dotted with cherry blossoms and people—happy people—jogging. Even though her dean handed her a list with the names of therapists near campus, both of them knew Suhani wouldn’t go.

“You know, that sounds like a great idea. And something we could definitely use in our program,” Dr. Wilson says.

“Really?” Hope blossoms in her chest.

“Really.” Dr. Wilson smiles. “I knew from the time I interviewed you that you’d do big things here.”