A Sure Sign She Will
Meet Alice Phillips, M.D., MPH, LSSYB, FAAP, Medical Director of Ambulatory, Quality and Safety, Primary Care Physician, Cook Children’s Pediatrics Cityview
Beware of telling Alice Phillips she can’t, because it’s a sure sign that she will. As a young woman, Dr. Phillips’ parents discouraged her from becoming a doctor. Not because they doubted their daughter’s abilities, but because they were unsure how she would balance being a doctor while also fulfilling her desire to be a wife and mother.
Today, Dr. Phillips admits their concern for her work-life balance wasn’t completely off the mark. It’s hard to juggle life as a wife, mother of two, a physician with a heavy patient load and a medical director at Cook Children’s.
“Those cultural pressures for women are real, so we have to be aware of them,” Dr. Phillips said.
Thanks to the support of her husband of 32 years, as well as Cook Children’s culture that equally values dedication to work, family and fun, Dr. Phillips found a way to balance it all, and her beloved parents were proud to witness it.
“Even though my parents initially were worried, later on, it was always, ‘Have you met my daughter, the doctor?’ They had immense pride in what I do,” Dr. Phillips said.
She says coffee helps her get through, too. Her java juice mug of choice is one gifted to her by her children featuring the face of Doc from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
“I imagine Doc must have been a pediatrician, because he's happy and loves what he does,” she said. “The mug symbolizes a lot of those things to me. Joy in my work and joy in something my family gave me.”
“In May 2021, I was privileged to be elected by my peers at Cook Children’s to serve as the first female primary care physician to hold the position of chairman of our physician-led Board of Directors. But this date held other precedence as well. Simultaneous to my election, the first all-female executive team to ever lead and represent our physicians was also elected. Over the next two years, I watched and listened as strong, intelligent female voices influenced the positive culture that Cook Children’s is known for regionally and now nationally. My career continues to grow as a part of the Cook Children’s family and the support it shows for all members of its team.”