Physician leader Bisi Alli, DO, talks women in medicine and the power of writing our own stories

In anticipation of National Women Physicians Day on Feb. 3, I am driven by a need for balance. As a third-year medical student, navigating my academic journey alongside the tumultuous landscape of healthcare today has proven to be a dizzying feat. My search for a steadying perspective led me to Bisi Alli, DO, MS, a dual board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician.

Among her numerous professional accomplishments, she is an associate professor at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, a LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt, the principal of WellNEST Medicine, a Quality Improvement coach and faculty, a former Mayo Clinic consultant, and author of the recently published children’s book, “Tayo and the Super Produce Pals at the Grocery Store!” Over the course of an evening, we discussed the unique experience of being women in medicine, the power of storytelling and what we gain from nurturing one another.

Early influences

Every tale has a beginning, and likewise every doctor has a ‘why’ that has led them down the path of medicine.

“I have wanted to be a physician since I was a child,” Dr. Alli began.

Her father and mother, a physician and nurse/social worker respectively, were strong early influences. Helping others became a theme throughout her education, and she recalls one professor from medical school in particular who left an impression:

“She gave this great lecture about the value of lifestyle interventions, including nutrition as a primary or adjunct approach for patients, as an intentional way to deliver care,” said Dr. Alli. “It really bridged both quality and empathetic care.”

This multidisciplinary view of care struck a chord, as my time spent working with patients in the hospital so far had already elucidated the variety of factors that lead to disease. This passion led Dr. Alli to create WellNEST Medicine, a healthcare consulting practice that collaborates with organizations to support access to quality healthcare across communities. The WellNEST mnemonic device stands for “Nurturing activities, Exercising and Eating fruits and veggies, Sleep and Stress management, and Timed mindful breaks.”

“Just like nests in nature, these provide a foundation to grow and support health,” Dr. Alli explained. “It’s not always simple, though—health exists on a continuum and there are multiple social factors that influence how we construct our nests.”

A fresh perspective

Indeed, it often doesn’t feel simple. After all, sleepless nights, stressful schedules, and quick junk food are hardly desirable—rather, they are difficult realities of the world we live in, particularly for those of us pursuing demanding professions.

“There’s this unspoken sentiment that we physicians stand apart from the diseases we treat,” Dr. Alli noted. We lingered a while on this irony and talked about how doing right by patients starts with taking care of ourselves.

“Focusing on lifestyle medicine and wellness helps us care for our own health, and the data shows this boosts our confidence and ability to support patients,” Dr. Alli said. “If we work on these undeniably challenging lifestyle interventions in our own lives, we can better support the health goals we strive for in our patients.”

But where do we start, and how? As Dr. Alli pointed out, the actions that are in our best interest are often the hardest ones to take.

“Even a mundane drive from home to school exposes us to billboards and ads promoting ultra-processed foods, fast food, and meals on demand through delivery apps—subtle cues that shape our choices and well-being,” she acknowledged. We discussed how the messaging we receive throughout the day, however subtle, significantly impacts our own views and behaviors.

“Building your NEST won’t erase outside pressures, but it can help you see them differently, making them more manageable with health-focused goals, flexible routines, and support systems,” Dr. Alli said.

Rewriting the narrative

Dr. Alli shared how witnessing her own son grow up is what ultimately inspired her to write and publish a children’s book alongside her WellNEST initiative—to create a counter-narrative to the ones we face every day. In “Tayo and the Super Produce Pals at the Grocery Store!”, a boy and his mother have an adventure in a grocery store. The book encourages readers to build a positive, plant-powered relationship with fruits, vegetables, and beans and also shares fun, evidence-based tips for families.

Many readers have reached out to Dr. Alli recounting the way her book has inspired their own families to “eat beans like Tayo!,” and this has bolstered her belief in storytelling as an intervention tool.

“This kind of storytelling plants seeds for health in communities and is now piloting in clinics and community programs,” said Dr. Alli. “Until we are able to regain healthier lifestyles in a very organic way, where we have more walkways than cars and more gardens than vending machines, we have books like this one to at least give kids and their grown-ups a way of appreciating what could be.”

Women in medicine

I was moved by how Dr. Alli’s experiences in motherhood and community-building shaped her perspective as a clinician, and I asked whether she felt that her identity as a mother and as a woman made her a better doctor.

“These and other elements of my identity undoubtedly shape how I listen, lead, and collaborate. Collectively, they deepen empathy, help me work effectively with others, and inform how I deliver care for patients and communities,” she answered.

On parenting, she added, “Children truly are our teachers. It’s exciting and humbling to relearn how to play mindfully. If we’re doing it right, it is humbling and incredibly rewarding.”

Empathy, collaboration, humility—these concepts echo as we reflect upon the trajectory of women in medicine, once in the minority but now well-represented in schools across the country. I first became acquainted with Dr. Alli through the American Medical Women’s Association, where she serves on the board of directors. She is a strong spokeswoman for the association, advocating for the advancement of women in healthcare spaces.

“For over a century, AMWA has championed both patient care and professional leadership, demonstrating how empathy, collaboration, and reflection strengthen outcomes and leadership alike,” responded Dr. Alli. “True impact comes from collective action—caring for ourselves, modeling purpose and supporting others in their growth, which fosters generational health.”

Furthermore, she continued, “As the profession continues to evolve, we have an opportunity to ensure that in both clinical care and leadership, we empower those around us—specifically groups that traditionally don’t have that representation.”

I wondered whether, from this angle of empowering various groups of people, our existence as women in the medical profession could be a political act.

“We’re effectively talking about the social systems that shape access, opportunity and voice,” she stated. “When these systems are designed intentionally, everyone benefits: patients, families, colleagues, and the healthcare system as a whole.”

Words of wisdom

As our conversation neared its end, I kept thinking of the “nest,” our duty to uplift, and the stories we tell each other. I pictured all of the young people like myself out there experiencing my same uncertainties about the future. How could we remain humble and motivated through it all?

“Be intentional about the type of physician and leader you want to become,” advised Dr. Alli. “Each day, choose actions that align with that vision and seek mentors who understand how systems work and focus on both meaningful processes and outcomes.”

“Remember also,” she added, “that mentors and inspiration can come from outside the profession—and from those who may not look like you, including innovators, activists, authors … Even those I have not had the honor to meet yet have been formative.”

In final thoughts, she shared, “When things feel difficult, prioritize what supports health—and, above all, be kind to yourself.”

Related reading:

Doctor, podcaster, advocate: Meet the DO redefining women’s health care

The sacrifices women physicians make: Balancing a medical career and family