When it comes to the best of both worlds, Kamali Thompson is living in it!
In 2021, the New Jersey native was a part of sports history after being a fencer for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. But, her climb to success doesn’t stop there as she is now making her way into the medical field.
According to Teen Vogue, she’s on the path to becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
Road To Becoming A Surgeon
Thompson has completed both business and medical school and is an orthopedic surgery resident. Although her dual pursuit is quite the challenge, the surgeon hasn’t allowed the pandemic to deter her from her passion and has been practicing in her new field.
“If you want to achieve a high goal, you have to sacrifice,” Thompson told the outlet. “Sometimes it’s going to feel like you’re making the wrong decision, and you need supportive people around you to say, ‘Listen, I know you want to go to that one thing or event, but you got to focus on your goal.’ I think hearing that support from different people in your life is helpful.”
Kamali Thompson's Childhood
Leaving her mark in the medical field has been a lifelong dream for Thompson.
“I always wanted to be a doctor. I couldn’t wait to see my pediatrician,” she shared with Teen Vogue. “She was an older Black woman and I wanted to be her because she made me feel great. I want to make other kids feel like that.”
Balancing Careers
Pursuing multiple careers in different fields is far from a small feat, but the 30-year-old serves as an example to young Black girls everywhere that there truly is no limit to their dreams.
“Millennials don’t live by the same status quo our parents live by, or our grandparents,” she said. “I can take my fencing, my medical career, and my MBA and make it into whatever I want to make it into. I think that’s exciting. I want to open up other opportunities for myself, whatever they may be, down the line.
