RESOLVE TO LEARN AND GROW
Don't let fear of failure keep you from succeeding.
We interviewed Dr. Tiffany Montgomery, an Assistant Professor in the Temple University College of Public Health, Department of Nursing. She was a labor and delivery nurse for fifteen years before turning her attention to research. Dr. Montgomery's scholarship focuses on sexual and reproductive health disparities, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing.
Ignite:
Where are you from and what drives your passion to be in nursing?
Dr. Montgomery:
I was born and raised in Long Beach, California, where I graduated from the Aspirations in Medical Services (AIMS) program at David Starr Jordan High School. My passion for nursing stems from a desire to work with child-bearing women. As a high school freshman, I realized I wanted to be a nurse.
Ignite:
Can you guide us through the process you traversed to get to where you are today in your career?
Dr. Montgomery:
Following high school, I went to San Jose State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in African American Studies. After working as a labor and delivery nurse for two years, I returned to school for a Master of Science in Nursing Education from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a PhD in Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles. I also earned a Master of Science in Health Policy Research from the University of Pennsylvania while in the National Clinician Scholars Program.
Ignite:
How do you encourage innovative ideas?
Dr. Montgomery:
When I see a problem, I want to solve it. My dissertation study was borne from a clinical issue I noticed. Young women were only coming to be seen by a provider if they were pregnant or had contracted an STD. We didn't see them for routine women's health exams. This really bothered me because there was very little opportunity for preventative education. I thought, "If they won't come to us, let's go to them." I adapted a traditional face-to-face evidence-based HIV prevention intervention for text message delivery. Since then, I've been using technology to encourage, inspire, and educate.
Ignite:
Do you have a mentor?
Dr. Montgomery:
I have many mentors. Some are women, some are men, some come from minoritized communities, and others are from the majority population. I try to glean wisdom from everyone I can. I believe in both formal and informal mentorship. So, even if I don't know someone personally, I still try to learn as much as I can from them. Some of my favorite mentors are people I follow on Twitter... they probably don't even know I exist!
Ignite:
Can you recommend a book or resource for building a particular strength or skill-set that you find valuable?
Dr. Montgomery:
At the risk of sounding arrogant, I'm going to recommend my previous blog. I blogged for the five years during which I was a PhD student. Readers had the opportunity to follow my journey from the moment I learned of my acceptance to the UCLA School of Nursing to the start of my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. I had great experiences and learned many important lessons along the way. Anyone considering a doctorate in nursing—whether it be a PhD or DNP—should read the blog.
Ignite:
What do you do to challenge your practice?
Dr. Montgomery:
I use education to challenge my practice. I am a dual-certified nurse. I have a non-clinical master's degree and a research degree. Soon, I will return to school one last time for a post-master's Women's Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. I've wanted to be a WHNP for more than a decade. I loved working in the OB-GYN clinic before starting my PhD program. My dream time mix would be 50% research, 20% teaching, 20% practice, and 10% service.
Ignite:
How do you navigate feeling nervous speaking to groups?
Dr. Montgomery:
To be honest, I don't have this issue. I began singing in church at a very young age, and I was in muscial theater in high school and college. I love to perform, so public speaking has never been an issue for me.
Ignite:
If a nursing student approached you and asked for your advice, and you had just a few moments to engage with them, what would be your best tip?
Dr. Montgomery:
Don't get dragged down by imposter syndrome. Truthfully, no one knows what they're doing, no matter how long they've been doing it. We are all constantly learning and consistently growing; at least we should be. So, apply for the scholarships and the jobs, submit the application to your dream graduate program, write the manuscript, start the blog. Do all the things! Don't let fear of failure keep you from succeeding.
Connect with Dr. Montgomery
Dr. Montgomery can be reached via Twitter and Instagram @DrTiffMonique. She also regularly contributes to her blog at Dr. Tiffany Monique.