LaTasha Seliby first knew that she wanted to become a doctor after her aunt passed away at a very young age.
Her aunt had died of a "very, very preventable" ailment that could have been treated if she had just gotten the proper care. And when Seliby realized that, it lit a fire inside of her.
All images via Cigna.
After all, family always came first for her. That's why, soon after the incident, she decided to dedicate her life to health care and make sure nothing like what happened to her aunt ever happened again — to her family and to others.
"I wanted to be kind of a catalyst of change," says Seliby. And today, that's exactly what she is.
Because on top of being an accomplished physician, Seliby is also creating change in ways that go beyond the definition of her profession. In fact, you can see exactly how she's doing that in the amazing video below:
This is a day in the life of a doctor who is trying to make preventive health care the norm.
Posted by Upworthy on Friday, July 28, 2017
Seliby is redefining how we think about health care by putting preventive care at the heart of everything she does.
"Medicine has been looked at as sick care — you go to the doctor, and you find out what's wrong," she explains. "What I want to do is change that. Let's go to the doctor and find out everything that's right — and how to keep it right."
What's one easy way to do that? Well, you can start by keeping an eye on your health before something goes wrong. Head to your doctor for a regular check-up and know your four health numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). That way, you can easily spot red flags and worry less when it comes to your health.
Taking care of yourself, though, is especially important for young people.
With the modern world becoming faster than ever and the daily grind for many getting more pressure-packed by the minute, it can be easy for a young person to let their well-being fall by the wayside. In fact, in a survey conducted by Zocdoc, 9 in 10 millennials admitted to avoiding regular doctor visits — skipping check-ups and screenings altogether.
And that's exactly what Seliby wants to change. Because consistent visits to your primary care provider, according to a study by UCLA, can lead to fewer ER visits and hospitalizations in the long run.
That's why Seliby is taking her mission to Capitol Hill to get the word on preventive care out to the entire country.
She regularly speaks with various lawmakers about how she can translate her firsthand experience into actionable bills that get as many people as possible understanding the value of preventive care.
"You feel like you're a part of a bigger purpose when you're able to go speak to lawmakers about things that will affect entire populations," she says.
And she's not stopping there.
Seliby is also affecting countless lives through her work as a writer and editor for Heart and Soul magazine, a national publication that "focuses on women of color, health prevention, fitness, and wellness."
Everything Seliby does is about one thing: getting people to take care of themselves before they get sick.
It's the first step needed to redefining how we all view health care. And it's the step that Seliby has worked her entire professional life to help everyone take.
Because if more people are able to practice regular preventive care moving forward, the more "catalysts of change" we'll see for generations to come.
"I feel like I'm doing what I said I want to do," says Seliby. "And I'm working to leave the legacy that I really want to leave."
Learn more about how to take control of your health at Cigna.com/TakeControl.