By Erin L.W. Zacholl
Swans move across water with such dignity and (what appears to be) effortless ability that it’s easy to admire what they achieve as they glide to their destination. Unless we really ponder what’s being done beneath the surface, we rarely see the hard work that’s propelling them. There are people among us with this same amazing trait. Dr. Tanya Paul is a shining example of someone with a calm and dignified quality that’s perfectly blended with a tenacious spirit that drives her to achieve her goals and then, set new ones.
Dr. Paul is a physician specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Auburn Community Hospital. “Anything is possible if you want to work for it,” she says from a lifetime of experience. “Even as a young child, I have worked toward the direction of accomplishing my dreams.” Originally from Queens, New York, Dr. Paul graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. “I knew from a very young age that medicine would be a large part of my future,” Dr. Paul reflects on the dreams of a school-aged child, “Although the type of medicine I’ve built my career on is different from my childhood goals, I knew I would become a doctor.”
“My medical ambitions began when I lost two grandparents in one year to cancer,” Dr. Paul remembers that this impacted her so profoundly, that she wanted to cure cancer. “I was so young, but this childhood tragedy opened my mind to practicing medicine. I was determined.” As a young girl, her medical direction would change, “When I was in 5th grade, a friend of mine endured a serious eye injury,” she details, “after seeing her appearance as she had been treated and was recovering, I wanted to be an eye doctor.” It was this dream that Dr. Paul clung close to through the rest of her adolescence and even through her medical school interview.
In medical school, Dr. Paul entertained her various rotations as a young student. “I kept an open mind to possibilities beyond my long-time dream, but was still focused on ophthalmology.” On her first night during her rotation in obstetrics, however, everything changed. “On that very first night, I was able to assist in the delivery of a baby,” she remembers with joy, “and that was it! Being a part of delivering that new life and interacting with the mother sparked a fire in me.” Dr. Paul recounts that everything about obstetrics and women’s medicine was interesting to her from that first night, “I followed through with my other rotations, including satisfying my life-dream of ophthalmology, but I knew being an OB/GYN was where my heart was leading me. Helping women through all the changes in their lives is where I belong.”
As a general obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Paul has more than 20 years of experience specializing in comprehensive health care in women of all ages. She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and prides her work on providing quality and compassionate care. “As important as my work is in serving medical care to my patients,” Dr. Paul says, “empowering women to take an active role in their healthcare is equally important. It’s so important for women to be healthy and to be heard. If I can help empower women to speak up for themselves, then I’ve been successful.” She says, “there is no distinct blueprint as an OB/GYN and every patient / woman deserves to be heard.”
Her confident and kind demeanor radiates in her voice. Dr. Paul’s ambitions have always been from a place of deep compassion. “I was the first person in my family to graduate college,” she says, “helping other women care for themselves is just part of my goal. Women, who come from a humble place, don’t always see their value and potential. If I can help boost them to realize not just their potential, but help them find the direction to their goals, then I’ve done my job.”
Identifying her own ambitions and reaching past them has always been the motor driving Dr. Paul. Throughout her entire career, she has taken on leadership roles including being the president of the medical staff at Auburn for two years. “I’ve been able to attain my goals and often strive beyond them, because of my support system,” Dr. Paul credits the strength of community. “It is important to have your community around you, to help you fill the gaps. Even if it’s a community of one, a strong support system is essential for all of us to boost ourselves toward our dreams.”
She also believes that what individuals need changes at different points in life and that it’s important to recognize change. “Throughout my career, when I take a job, I make sure that it fits into my life at that time,” Dr. Paul says, “Every person needs to figure out what works best for them where they are in their lives.”
As a physician, Dr. Paul loves the patient interactions the most. “When patients open up to me and I can humanize medicine to them, it’s very rewarding,” she says. “I try to give everyone a voice. Everyone wants to be, and should be, heard.” Dr. Paul believes that a person’s mental health is important in all aspects of medicine, “All doctors should encourage mental health as one of the standard check ups, like visiting the dentist or going for an annual physical.” She believes that all patients would be able to advocate best for themselves if mental health checkups were more universally practiced.
With so much already accomplished in her career, Dr. Paul continues to look forward, “There are always new goals in my scope,” she says, “I ask myself; how can I have the best impact on my community?” Right now, the answer to that self inquiry is her desire to help lower the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Rate in our CNY Community. “This is such a large problem, and I want to be able to help our most vulnerable mothers.” Another career goal she has in her sight is truly assisting women transition through menopause and perimenopause with a healthy mindset and with accurate information. “This is an aspect of women’s medicine that is so unique to each patient that it’s difficult to generalize and yet, that’s what happens all too often.”
For Dr. Paul, the circumstances may change a bit, but she says, “What has allowed me to be who I am, at all stages of my life and career, is my strong faith and my amazing support system which includes my husband, three sons and extended family as well as the community that I live in. Raising my sons and seeing them grow into strong, compassionate young men is a tremendous inspiration. I feel blessed to have such a source of strength in my life. Everyone needs support to move ahead in life and I only hope that I can help those that need it the most, find it.”
