About
The story behind the foundation and the woman who started it all.
Founder & Author
Tamika K. Cross, MD, FACOG
Dr. Tamika K. Cross is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Opulence Health and Wellness in Pearland, TX. She is the founder of this one stop shop and safe haven for women of all ages and backgrounds to feel seen, heard, and prioritize their self-care. Dr. Cross has received numerous awards, including Becker Hospital Review’s “Top 60 Most Powerful People in Healthcare” alongside Former President Barack Obama. She has been recognized with a University of Texas Faculty Senate Resolution and U.S. Congressional Recognition for her work addressing discrimination in medicine and advocating for marginalized communities. A multi-time recipient of Houston’s Top Doctors, Dr. Cross focuses on health issues disproportionately impacting women of color and was the first surgeon in Pearland to perform a cutting-edge outpatient fibroid surgery. Passionate about reducing maternal mortality rates among Black and Brown women, Dr. Cross has served on several hospital committees and speaks nationally on diversity, bias, and equity in healthcare. She uses her platform to educate on women’s health topics and has been featured on CNN, Forbes, FOX, The New York Times, and Red Table Talk. Dr. Cross authored What a Doctor Looks Like, a memoir that highlights her journey from growing up as a little black girl from Detroit to becoming the doctor she always dreamed of and the obstacles she faced along the way. Her book was inspired by a viral social media movement she started after experiencing discrimination on a flight. She became the center of a national conversation about racial bias in medicine. She offered medical assistance to an unresponsive passenger; however, the flight crew did not believe she was a doctor. Her advocacy sparked global conversations on discrimination, leading to policy changes in healthcare. Her story ignited a global dialogue and inspired her to channel that moment into lasting change. She continues to champion equity through outreach, policy reform, and systemic change efforts. A Detroit native, Dr. Cross earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, her medical degree from Meharry Medical College, and completed her residency at UT McGovern Medical School, where she served as Chief Resident. After years working as an Assistant Professor, she went on to open her private practice, providing compassionate, culturally competent, patient-centered care to women across Houston and beyond.
The Moment That Started It All
On October 9th, 2016, Dr. Cross was returning home to Houston after attending a childhood friend's wedding in Detroit. Mid-flight, a passenger became unresponsive. The flight crew called for a physician to assist in the emergency.
After volunteering her assistance, Dr. Cross was met with resistance from the flight crew who did not believe she was a doctor. She was interrogated and asked to substantiate her claim — and was still barred from assisting the ill passenger.
It was not until a middle-aged white male physician came forward that the crew immediately allowed a doctor to render aid. Dr. Cross was left standing in the aisle, her credentials questioned solely because of how she looked.
She shared her experience on Facebook. Within days, the post had been shared hundreds of thousands of times. The story was covered by major news outlets around the world and sparked a critical national conversation about implicit bias, racism in medicine, and what a doctor really looks like.
“I'm sure many of my fellow young, corporate America working women of color can all understand my frustration when I say I'm sick of being disrespected.”
About the Foundation
The What A Doctor Looks Like Foundation was born from that viral moment. Dr. Cross transformed pain into purpose — creating an organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in medicine and supporting underrepresented minorities on their path to becoming healthcare professionals.
Through an annual health fair, mentorship programs, scholarships, speaking engagements, and community outreach, the foundation works to ensure that the next generation of physicians sees themselves reflected in the doctors who came before them.