How a phonebook led me down a path of greatness.

Story by Rhea Côté Robbins

In my early feminist days, I only wanted to consult female physicians, so upon moving to Portland as a new mother with a newborn, I found a female pediatrician, Dr. Alice Whittier (1898-1994), in the Yellow Pages. When we arrived for the appointment, the waiting room was entirely empty, but the walls were covered with decades of photos of children—her former patients. The appointment lasted over two hours. When a medical emergency occurred, as Dr. Whittier walked the hallways of Maine Med, the staff was amazed at and honored by her presence; they didn’t know she was still actively practicing medicine. I wondered, “Who is this doctor?” All I knew of her was how up-to-date she was on procedures and how thorough she was in the care of our daughter.

Read the full story in the digital magazine above.