Building Your Ideal Male Physique Our People: Dr. Laura Levin

Our People: dr. Laura Levin Atrium Health Pediatrician

BY MYKAh BuFF | QNOTES STAFF wRITER

Dr. Laura Levin is originally from the media. What was your reaction to Baltimore, Md. and completed her this and did it present any challenges medical degree at Temple University professionally or personally? in Philadelphia, Pa. in the early 1990s. Initially, I was very fearful. Believe it or not, Levin is board-certified in Pediatrics and I do not like change! I thought community Addiction and has worked as a pediatri- backlash would be strong and that we cian at Atrium Health in Concord, N.C. would lose 12-15 percent of our patient (formerly Piedmont Pediatrics) for over 20 population. Instead, we lost less than 1 years. She became a local LGBTQ public percent. My current challenge is the fear figure after coming out as transgender I feel when going into a room to meet a publically a little over five years ago and family new to me. I worry they will get up has used her platform to promote trans- and walk out, which has happened, but gender awareness and advocacy. not in a few years. I now know that this Why did you want to become a doctor? can be painful though. When I was a child, my pediatrician

interest you?

Center for Gender Health as a transgender Appalachian Trail with friends. Now, how is a reflection on them and not me. It still recognized an aptitude for sciences and Overall, what has your life been like math. That confidence he expressed in me since deciding to transition? eventually inspired me to pursue a career I am so much more fulfilled. I connect with in medicine. When I studied physics as an people on a much deeper level. I don’t live undergraduate, the available jobs in that in shame (of who I am) and fear (of being branch of science were ones that didn’t discovered). I am out, open and proud! I interest me. I wanted to be in a helping also consider myself an accidental activist. profession, so I switched to medicine. When one is professional and transitions in the public view, they almost always get Why did you choose pediatrics as your called to be leaders of the community. I field of specialty? have been on the board of directors of Simply put, all the nicest mentors were in Equality North Carolina and now am on the pediatric field during medical school. the board at Time Out Youth. Pretty tough Are there other areas of medicine that selves an introverted introvert.

Gender care is my current passion. I am What is your favorite color? thrilled to work for Levine Children’s Purple! Yay purple! medicine specialist. I do lots of work in the Can you describe how being a doctor field of behavioral health (ADHD, anxiety, has brought meaning to you? depression). About six years ago, I started I am rewarded by the satisfaction that I working in the addiction field as a favor to do several jobs that almost no one else a friend. It was supposed to be a three- does. I’ve always been what I consider a month gig. I ended up loving it and am grunt, go to work, do your job, go home. now board certified in Addiction Medicine My life is very different now though! I have too. lectured to future nurses, N.C. Chaplains, How would you describe the perfect Carolina and Virginia, and spoken to vacation? several groups and at several conferences My favorite vacation was Iguazu Falls. I (Carolina Conference on Queer Youth, am now working on section hikes of the PFLAG groups, etc.). stuff for someone who considers themaddiction medicine specialists in North to figure out how to combine the two! What did you do professionally before

pursuing a medical degree?

Your announcement to Atrium Health I was a professional student. I completed a to pursue your gender transition in five-year program in undergraduate edu2015 was inadvertently made public by cation, two years in graduate school, then four years of medical school.

What advice can you give today’s generation of transgender professionals?

Show up, do your job! Do it well. Like it or not, we represent an entire community, and if we mess up, it can have serious implications. Not to mention that there are those out there who would like to see us fail. I would also say try to make yourself available to others who are in transition. They frequently can benefit from your experience, strength, and hope.

How do you like to spend your time away from work?

I hang out with friends and have deep conversations and coffee six feet apart. I have developed a love of the outdoors and lately have been backpacking, camping, kayaking, tubing, paddle boarding, climbing and hiking. Mostly with friends — but sometimes solo.

What do you like to do to relax and unwind?

Meditating, reading, listening to podcasts and music (I’ve got electronic meditation music on in the background as I write this), playing a game called Go………

What is your favorite food?

I love the Maryland blue crab. But, as I move toward vegan, I am appreciative of dark chocolate! : :