Pictured above: Dr. Joelle Simpson with her parents, Ronald and Marilyn, and Michael Milken
(Photo coutesy of Dr. Joelle Simpson)

Dr. Joelle Simpson learned the value of a support system through her journey as a Milken Scholar

If one of Michael Milken’s initiatives is “to foster lifelong leaders for a better world” by establishing the Milken Scholars Program and creating a web of support, then he surely achieved this with Joelle Simpson, Milken Scholar ‘95.

At 38, Dr. Joelle Simpson is the Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness and an assistant professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s National Health System in Washington DC, as well as an emergency medicine specialist. She credits her journey – becoming a prestigious Milken Scholar and Harvard Graduate, as well as earning an M.P.H. and an M.D. in pediatric emergency medicine-to the many people in her life- family, friends, teachers, and colleagues who helped motivate and inspire her to reach her potential.

“People had a much bigger vision for myself than I did and I’m glad that I was able to realize that.”

Simpson has always had support and encouragement, which stemmed from her family while growing up in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1980’s. She feels especially grateful for having been born into a large, close-knit family, where both parents and extended family members alike played an integral part in helping her succeed.  She  remembers waking up early everyday at 4:30 am to attend Catholic school at a convent, and was keenly aware of the high academic expectations that were placed upon her.  She didn’t feel it was more than she could handle, as was continuously encouraged by her entire family. Everyone helped each other out – uncles would take her to buy books and uniforms, and Simpson and her cousins would study together as a group.

“I wouldn’t have changed it for anything in the world, “ She smiles.

Life changed swiftly for Simpson at age 13, when she moved with her family to Staten Island, New York. in the early 90’s. Knowing how well she  performed in school prior to their move, Simpson’s parents, Marilyn and Ronald, requested that their daughter be placed in the next grade when they registered her for the fall term. She was put into an intense high school math and science program called Gateway, located at Port Richmond Institute of Science & Math (PRISM).  This specialized public program – at the time only offered in four New York City high schools, helped minority students gain entrance into competitive universities. With only one spot left at PRISM, under the condition of a six-month probation, Simpson flourished and ended up having the highest grades in her class.

“My parents have always been huge champions- I couldn’t have picked better, ” she says, proudly  adding that they have always challenged her  to reach for the stars.

It was only after her family’s move to the U.S. that she started to understand the dynamics felt between black and white people. “I experienced no prejudice growing up,” she explains. “I didn’t even know how to identify people with titles of being black or white. Trinidad is very diverse-my cousins looked like the spectrum of the rainbow in terms of color, race and ethnicity.”

Being part of a minority educational initiative in the U.S., she felt comfortable knowing that most of the students in the program were from immigrant families like hers. “I don’t know if I would have been able to survive without that boost,” she says.

At the end of her high school sophomore year, Simpson enrolled in Cornell University’s summer program through Gateway. She was required to do research and write a paper about cancer, a project she believes was “life-changing.”

The assignment came at the same time Simpson’s grandmother in Trinidad and Tobago was diagnosed with brain cancer.  After receiving positive feedback and a good grade, Simpson shared the information she learned from her course with her grandmother, in order to help her better understand the prognosis and treatment. It was this connection that sparked her interest in pursing a career in medicine.

“She got to see me become what I wanted to be, “ Simpson says of her grandmother, who survived her cancer and just recently passed away.  I don’t think she could be any prouder.”

Before applying to college, Joan Feola- Simpson’s guidance counselor – explained about the Milken Scholars Program and revealed that she wished to nominate Simpson. “ Joan advocated for me and put me in the headlights, ” she says.

Unfortunately, another administrator at her school was not as encouraging.  When Simpson went to the school office to collect applications, she was handed only local college forms. She inquired about schools the paperwork for schools outside the New York area, and was subtly informed that those colleges were out of her league.

Thought not everyone at her school believed in her abilities, Simpson’s parents were adamant she apply to a wide variety of schools, With the help of  Feola, Simpson applied to every Ivy League college in the country  and was accepted to all eight of them.  Knowing she would need substantial funds to attend , she also applied to approximately 100 scholarships. It was  Harvard that presented the best financial package and was deemed the best fit, , and after an impressive campus tour, she accepted her place at the university.

In April of 1995, around the same time she chose to attend Harvard, Simpson discovered she had been selected as a Milken Scholar. “I remember telling the Milken staff that being a Milken Scholar was as good as getting into Harvard,” she says.

The Milken Scholars is a joint initiative of the Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation where recipients in their senior year of high school receive a $10,000 scholarship and gain access to an outstanding support system and a multitude of resources throughout their lifetime.

Simpson was grateful for her network of family and scholarly support, especially when she began her first intimidating day as a Harvard freshman.

“The day I moved in, I remember being totally thrown off by the type of people that were there-Al Gore’s daughter was moving in right below me,” she laughs.

She is thankful for meeting students like herself at the minority student’s orientation and still remains close to the African-American students from the class of 99’. Coincidentally, three of the five Milken Scholars in Simpson’s year were black women, who all chose to go to Harvard.

Her Milken support team was extremely helpful when it came to her transition to university.  While having a rough time preparing for one of her exams and skeptical about being able to continue at Harvard, the Milken staff immediately stepped in and introduced Simpson to a renowned black female neurosurgeon who immediately contacted her and gave her a stellar pep talk. During another challenging period, Simpson was mailed organic chemistry textbooks- bright with  highlighter, to assist her in understanding the material.  “They all helped me keep my dreams in focus.”

After graduating, Simpson went on to George Washington University to earn an  M.P.H. as well as an M.D. in pediatric and emergency medicine.  While in the Baltimore area during her pediatric training at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Simpson made time to assist a young woman through a mentorship program called My Sister’s Circle.

Taking that experience with her as a faculty member at Children’s Health Center, Simpson divides her time between teaching, conducting research, and seeing young patients in the emergency department. “I get to do what I’m passionate about day in and day out, “ she enthuses. “I love the independence that physicians have, I love the relationship we get to have with families, and I enjoy the academic rigor and challenge.”

When Simpson is not consumed with attending to the well-being of children on the local and national level, she fulfills her duties as a Milken Scholar alumni. She devotes many hours to the selection committee, interviewing DC Milken Scholar applicants, and is very pleased to see the DC school system thriving. “I want to help these young leaders gain access to the same resources I was offered in college.”

Simpson is also determined to carve out some space for herself and calls her much-needed time off, “Joelle days”, a concept that she was introduced to by the Milken Scholarship staff.  Simpson especially loves spending quality time with her two-year-old niece and family, as well as travelling the globe.

Her advice to young people who are hoping for a bright future? “I have my trusty advisors that I always keep close to me. When you lose direction they help you get back on course.”

> This article by Rena Godfrey appeared in the Pre-Spring 2017 issue of Lifestyles Magazine.