MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ABC24 sat down with the First Lady of Memphis, Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, in an exclusive interview on her journey growing up in Memphis, forging her own path while staying by the side of Memphis' newest mayor.
"It's my sister and I, and so my dad does not have a son to leave the legacy for Smith, so that's why I was like I'm going to keep that name," Dr. Jamila Smith-Young said.
Carrying on that legacy, by making a name of her own, Dr. Jamila Smith-Young is a mother, a medical professional, the First Lady of Memphis, and forever a Memphian.
"I grew up in the Cherokee neighborhood which is southeast Memphis. My parents had big families, my mom had 12 siblings and my dad, six. So, lots of cousins come along with that," she said.
The White Station High School alum with a love for science and math went on to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she earned a microbiology degree and met the love of her life.
"That's where I met Paul," she said. "He's two years older than me. He graduated earlier, so I was a little homesick as well, so I came back for love as well as my family."
In 16 years of schooling, Smith-Young earned two bachelor degrees, two master degrees and a doctorate in nurse practice at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center; making history as the first graduate of the College of Nursing Pediatric Acute Care concentration within the doctorate program.
"It was challenging, but it was good. I enjoyed it, and I was the first graduate, so not knowing that at the time I enrolled, that that would be the case. So it's kind of history in itself," she said.
With a specialty in endocrinology, she focuses on treating pediatric patients with diabetes and growth disorders.
"We are one of the leading cities when it comes to being overweight and obese," she said. "So the rate, the last that I read, was that the pediatric diabetes it's growing about 2% each year."
She sees how health disparities in Shelby County affect her patients. Working with kids, she gets to know families and their lifestyles.
"Whether its the food deserts or just not having access because of transportation or just jobs, you know, socioeconomic status, trying to close that gap so we can have health equity," she said.
That's where her medical profession overlaps with her role as First Lady of Memphis.
Q: "What are your top goals as First Lady?"
"Definitely bringing out the side of being healthier and not leaving the little people out, because we always think about adults and obesity, but it starts with the whole household," she said. "So, teaching these kids from the beginning that we've got to be active. We've got to try to eat right, of course."
Q: "A lot of political figures have said that they consult with their spouse on certain issues, is that the same dynamic with you and Mayor Young?"
"Absolutely we do. He taps into me asking questions as far as what do we do here at Le Bonheur or how would you treat a patient, if they needed resources for housing," she said. "It overlaps a lot when it comes to government and healthcare."
Q: "Have you gotten the Barack and Michelle reference at all?"
"We have! We get that a lot, and that's pressure! But yes, we have," she said. "You know we want to have our own path, our own lane of things, but you know Barack and Michelle, we idolize them as well, but our parents, they have been key people on both sides. I married someone that had the same similar backgrounds as me when it comes to serving others."
Q: "How are you guys balancing work and politics and your kids?"
"That's one of my main priorities to make sure that they still have their normal routine and activities. Just making sure that we're present," she said. "My youngest didn't quite understand it as much, but my oldest, she's into it. She was very involved in the campaigns and the debates, and all of that."
Even through the challenging work life balance, the First Lady of Memphis knows being the first lady of her household, comes first.
"I want to be a mom that they feel comfortable talking to and just being there for them, where they can say they had a great childhood and not look back out and not have resentment for anything," she said.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, we're seeing Dr. Smith-Young's moment in real time, wearing all her different hats, as a living example that women should go after everything they want out of life.
"Letting women know that it's okay to have a career, and be a mom and a spouse," she said. "So, just the legacy of you can balance everything, you just have to figure out what works for you."
Q: "So you can have it all?"
"You can have it all, you just put your mind to it," she said.
Dr. Smith-Young is a nurse practitioner at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, and also an associate professor at UTHSC. She's teaching at the same program where she made history as the first graduate.