In honor of National Women Physicians Day, please meet Dr. Crystal Maxwell

Photos by Nakia Newman

Today we celebrate National Women Physicians Day, marking the birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, back in 1849. In honor of this momentous day, allow me to introduce you to Crystal A. Smith Maxwell, MD, MBA, FAAFP. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of LIGHT Family Wellness where she enjoys providing health education and coaching and serves as the healthcare ministry coordinator of her church.

Now let's get to know Dr. Maxwell's story!

Where are you originally from?

Foxworth, Mississippi

Where did you attend medical school?

University of Tennessee

Have you always been an overachiever (we noticed you also have your MBA among other credentials)?

I wouldn’t say I’m an overachiever, but I have worked to prepare myself and develop my skills since I was a little girl. It was important to me to be at the top of my class and learn as much as I could so that I am always prepared for opportunities that come. I used to prepare myself for tests by pretending I was the teacher, creating my own tests to ensure I knew the content. I still like to be well prepared.

What have you personally struggled with regarding health or a healthy lifestyle?

I had an episode of heart failure when I was only 30 years old. Never could I have imagined experiencing that at such a young age. My heart was very weak for over 6 months. Thankfully, I have fully recovered to normal but having to be the patient, remember to take medications, modify my activities, and diet were life altering experiences. Now that I am better, I caution myself when I eat fast food too frequently and don’t have enough vegetables and fruit in my diet. Many of us are a work in progress for proper nutrition, so I am very supportive of helping my patients understand that it’s not expected that everything is done exactly right away. Change and maintenance of change takes time and constant effort.

Please share a few wellness tips!

I believe that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. I have a Top 10 Things for MAXimzing your LIGHT – Living In God’s Holy Temple. I’ll share my top 4:

1. Drink more water

2. Acknowledge that you are enough

3. Eat fewer carbs

4. Embrace that you belong

Why is being more proactive with your health less expensive over time?

Benjamin Franklin said it best, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Avoiding the need for medications or procedures for treatment before developing a condition not only saves money from the cost of care, but it also helps you to avoid the expense of mental and emotional stress on you and those who love you.

Change and maintenance of change takes time and constant effort.

Now let's play favorites! What's your favorite...?

Book: Tie – Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King and Becoming by Michelle Obama

Series: Tie – Grey’s Anatomy and The Young & The Restless

App: Tie – Facebook and Spotify

Grocery store: Publix

Snack: Second Nature Dark Chocolate Medley

Indulgence: Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream

Takeout: Tie – Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant and Freddy’s in Indian Land

Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Things to do: sleep, eat seafood, watch movies, travel, and spend time with my husband and daughter

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