Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans. This month, Woman’s Hospital is highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of some of our Medical Staff members who are advancing medicine through their passion for healthcare.
Kenyatta Shamlin-Haynes, MD and Tasha Shamlin, MD’s passion for helping others is rooted in the strong foundation provided by their parents, Dr. Gwynn and Rev. Brunetta Shamlin. Proud graduates of Baton Rouge Magnet High School and Louisiana State University, the sisters both completed medical school and dual Internal Medicine and Pediatric residencies at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas before returning to their hometown to practice medicine and be with their family. As physicians of medical aesthetics, Dr. Shamlin-Haynes and Dr. Shamlin help their patients with laser skin correction, anti-aging, and body-sculpting services in their state-of-the-art Medical Spa off Picardy Avenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They believe that it is important for patients to balance health with inner well-being. Patients come from all over the country for detoxification and relaxation services, as well as guidance in improving their body composition or balancing their hormones naturally. Over the years, they have received a number of accreditations and awards for their professional and philanthropic efforts, and they have served as board members for many organizations.
When they are not helping others look and feel their best at the Spa, they can be found practicing Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baton Rouge Family Medical Center. Dr. Shamlin-Haynes and Dr. Shamlin have been members of Woman’s Hospital Medical Staff since April of 2003 and have dedicated their lives to serving the Baton Rouge Community.
We recently visited The Medical Spa of Baton Rouge to highlight their business and speak with them about the importance of Black History Month and what it means to them as African American women operating a business and serving the community of Baton Rouge.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
“It is important for African Americans to know their past. This is especially of paramount importance for the younger generations. Knowing and learning of the obstacles our ancestors have faced along the way to simply allow people of color the right to vote is an amazing story of resilience. Many of our ancestors made great sacrifices and even lost their lives so that future generations to come would have a better quality of life,” Dr. Shamlin-Haynes answered.
What does it mean to be a black-owned business?
Dr. Shamlin-Haynes said, “Being an African American Business owner you are often challenged to operate and function at a greater level than what is considered standard. The expectations are set to a much higher spectrum from inside and outside of the business. You are held accountable on all levels of life. However, in return this becomes an advantage and affords you the opportunity to be a role model for those pursuing entrepreneurships in the future. It is important for African Americans to know that excellence is achieved by diligence and that all things are attainable through hard work and determination.”
How does community support of black owned businesses help the community as a whole?
“Community support is important to grow your business,”Dr. Shamlin-Haynes said. “Now more than ever with the ability to see more things on social media this provides businesses with hope for enhancement and development possibilities. By supporting others in business, we can evolve and expand into greater horizons and beyond what our ancestors could have ever imagined. I believe the world should be inclusive and supportive while breaking down barriers that have been in place for decades.”
“Having someone who might look like you or might have similar experiences as you could bring a sense of comfort and limit the bias that exists not only in patient care but in business as a whole,” she added. “Statistics show that healthcare disparities do exist among African American people of color when compared to the other ethnic groups. Everyone deserves to receive the same level of care and service regardless of race or any other discriminatory factors. Everyone should soon realize that racial diversity is very important to produce a quality level of care that will be required to treat patients of many more generations to come.”
To learn more about about Dr. Shamlin-Haynes and Dr. Shamlin and the Medical Spa of Baton Rouge visit medicalspaofbatonrouge.com.