iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

I'll be forever grateful to my mom for teaching me to be the kind of Mom she was. If you still have your mom (and she wasn't terrible and toxic because there are those) give her a call or a hug today. For those who don't, I understand. Happy Mother's Day! 2/2

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

My mother lost her battle to colon cancer 24 years ago. She was the best mom ever. She was there for everything. I miss her terribly. Before I had my own children, Mother's Day was a bitter day. Now that I have my own babies, it's bittersweet. 1/2

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

After spending 10 hours on the road, I made Easter eggs! The kiddos are going to be so excited! #Easter

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

I ended up where I needed to be. 21 years after that fateful match, I am an academic pathology chair. I found what I love and I made it work for me.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

While deciding to do with my life that night, I began to think about pathology. I liked it. I understood it. And with that, I decided to scramble into pathology. I had no idea that I was making one of the best decisions of my entire life.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

On Black Monday, as I remember it, I went to the computer lab to check my email. The message said, “Dear Ms. Fitzhugh, we regret to inform you…” I never read the rest. I broke into tears. It felt like my life was over. I had never failed at anything in my life but I failed to match.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

I was not ok. I was told at one program that it would be hard to rank me over other Black applicants because I had good enough credentials to get into “majority programs”. I was told by another program that I should rank them high because I probably wouldn’t match anywhere else.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Interestingly enough, I did a pathology elective in my 4th year. I also got to spend time in pathology during my orthopedic oncology week (yes, I wanted to be an orthopedic oncologist). I was fascinated by the pathology, but with 18 programs ranked I figured I would be ok.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

I did orthopedic research. I did orthopedic electives in my fourth year of medical school. I really should have been fine.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Now before someone jumps in with my lack of qualification, my board scores were in line with other male ortho applicants and my grades were great despite my mother dying in my second year of medical school.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

I went to medical school thinking I was going to be an orthopedic surgeon. This was the early 2000s and at this time there were very few women and people of color who matched into ortho.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

So you’ve probably seen a bunch of #Match posts here. What you may see a lot less of are posts from the medical students and doctors that did not match. And as such, I’m going to share my story. A story of not matching. Because things really can turn out ok. 🧵

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I’d like to know who the @nflbluesky.bsky.social source was who didn’t “like the halftime show.” Will someone in the NFL front office admit that with their name quoted? If you’re bothered by Kendrick Lamar’s show then you’re the ones who needed to see and hear it. apple.news/A7gly83T7QzO...

apple.news

NFL Considering 'Change' After Kendrick Lamar 'Mistake' — Athlon Sports

Ahead of the Super Bowl, sports personality Skip Bayless made headlines when he alleged the NFL sent an apology letter to Lil Wayne after he wasn't selected to perform the halftime show in his native ...

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

That’s nice, and I knew that. All that says is he believed in science once some time ago.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

I’m no lawyer but much of what I have read spells many of these executive orders to be illegal.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Reach out to your friends at the NIH, CDC, and FDA. They are not ok.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

I’m surprised Bobby Kennedy isn’t in this photo… Our children are in greater danger.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Happy Valentine’a Day to my one and only!

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I hate to say this, but I absolutely thought this would happen. Me and over 70 million other people…

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

I am the only Black woman to be appointed as chair of 2 academic pathology departments. I am Black History.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Yes, it’s Black History Month. You can try, but you’re not going to take my history away from me. Black history IS American history.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I spit out my coffee when I read this and was relieved I was wearing a black blouse today

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

We have to submit by 1/29 so I’m grinding hard to get it done, especially since I am the contact PI!

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Good luck to you as well! Hope you get a fundable score!

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

It’s hard to continue with the negative messaging everywhere

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

@cnn.com @msnbc.com as a physician currently working on an NIH diversity grant renewal I am very worried for its future with this administration given the DEI shutdown in the federal government today.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

When you’re working on your diversity NIH training grant renewal and message after message says it’s not going to happen... I’m not sure if I should give up or keep going. 🥲

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Instead of watching the inauguration, I’m going to honor this man instead. #DrMartinLutherKingJr

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

He’s not President yet. Please give us our time to mourn. Thanks.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Maybe just this once the inauguration should have been on a Tuesday.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Friends, this was posted on Facebook. When people show you who they are, believe them.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

This about sums it up. Stay warm my friends!

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

I had to change my go to word though! Lol. Wordle gives me joy.

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Wordle 1,290 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 My go to word was finally the Wordle word of the day!

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Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (she/her/hers) @drfna.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

My kids asked me to make an Oreo cream pie. About to mix the cream cheese and sugar mix into the whipped cream. I can’t believe I made whipped cream!!!! First picture is the cream cheese mix. Second picture is the whipped cream❤️

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