As I walked through the busy surgery clinic hall this morning, an elderly Black woman in a wheelchair grabbed my hand. “Are you a surgeon?” she asked, eyes wide. “I’m a surgeon in training,” I replied. She gasped, her voice trembling, “Baby, I’ve never seen a Black surgeon in all my years. Come here, let me give you a hug. I’m so proud of you.” Her grip was strong, her pride unmistakable, her joy palpable! Representation matters—today, it mattered to her and to me Medthreads