FAMU Alum Makes History As Vanderbilt’s First Black Woman Neurosurgeon Resident

She’s the first in the University’s 148-year-history!

Dr. Tamia Potter is a Florida native and graduate of the illustrious Florida A&M University, Yahoo News reports. She majored in chemistry at FAMU before attending Case Western Reserve University in Ohio for medical school. Getting her career start as a nursing assistant when she was still a teen, Potter made invaluable relationships that would serve her well along the way. Now she has matched at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, making history as the University’s first Black woman neurosurgeon resident since their opening in 1874. 

“My first job was a certified nursing assistant at 17 years old in 2014. Today on March 17th, 2023 I was blessed to be selected as the first African American female neurosurgery resident to train @VUMC_Neurosurg,” Potter wrote on Twitter.  

The budding neurosurgeon credits the mentorship of women like Dr. Chelsea Mooreland, who supported Potter as she applied for Vanderbilt’s residency program and really helped to guide her along the way. Mooreland sent her congratulations via social media along with hundreds of others, saying how proud she was.

“I could not be more proud of my amazingly talented and brilliant mentee who just so happens to be a Beta Alpha Soror and FAMU Alumnae,” wrote Dr. Mooreland. 

Potter is one of three new neurosurgery residents at Vanderbilt Med. The department also took to Twitter to send their well wishes. 

“We are thrilled to announce our new Vanderbilt Neurosurgery residents! Congratulations – we are so excited to have you on your team!,” reads the post. 

Congratulations Dr. Potter! Because of you, we can!

FAMU Alum makes history as Vanderbilt’s first Black woman neurosurgeon resident/Photo Courtesy of @PotterTamia/Twitter