Soul SiStories
Soul SiStories was born out of a mutual desire to bring forward hope and healing through sharing our lived experiences. Hope is embracing life despite adversity. Hope is our reason.
Soul SiStories
Hope Through Compassionate Education Dr. Ali Herweck
What if the detour was the door you needed? We sit down with Dr. Ali Herweck—physician, MPH, and current REI fellow—to trace a real, unvarnished path into women’s health and fertility care. From not getting into medical school the first time to matching lower on her list and moving across the country, Ali turns every twist into fuel. She shows how purpose steadies ambition, how mindset is a daily choice, and how “hope through compassionate education” changes patient care, one clear explanation at a time.
Ali opens a window into reproductive endocrinology and infertility, where science and empathy meet. We talk IVF, evidence-based medicine, and the quiet resilience patients carry through uncertainty. With a marketing background and strong research training, she also tackles the messy reality of health information online—why so much goes viral and wrong, and how clinicians can meet people where they are with trustworthy, human content. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed, or unsure which source to believe, this conversation is a steady hand on your shoulder.
Beyond the clinic, Ali shares the routines that keep her grounded: fitness as a reset, Sunday planning to tame chaos, and honest check-ins about goals and growth. She speaks frankly about bias—being told to dim her hair and personality to be taken seriously—and why she chose to stay herself while sharpening her craft. For anyone navigating admissions seasons, the Match, career pivots, or family-building decisions, her story is a practical masterclass in resilience and clarity.
If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs hope backed by evidence, and leave a review to help more people find honest conversations about fertility, women’s health, and the power of second tries.
Ali Herweck, MD, MPH (@aliherweckmd) | TikTok
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Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, we just had the best conversation with Dr. Ali Herwick, MD. And I am so excited to introduce her to everybody and let you all just come along with this journey with us.
SPEAKER_03:Welcome to Soul Sistories, everyone. Come on along.
SPEAKER_02:Welcome to Soul Sistories. We are here with Dr. Ali Herwick, an MD in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Ali also holds a master's in public health where she focuses on health disparity and global health. She is currently uh completing her fellowship. And we welcome Allie to join us today. So excited. And I'm just gonna say, as you heard her last name, there's something in common. And Allie is my youngest sister. So I Mine too. Mine too. I was thinking, well, your name is a little different on.
SPEAKER_03:My name is yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00:And I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_02:Wonderful, wonderful. So this is really exciting for us because we don't get to see you all the time because you have been so busy for many, many years going to school and doing your internship and your residency and now your fellowship and really kind of traveling all over the country as you did this.
SPEAKER_03:So and all over the world as a medical professional and helping and supporting communities, underserved communities all over the world. Amazing.
SPEAKER_00:No, yes, I have. I started in San Diego and like for my undergrad and then went to the University of Miami for my medical school and master's in public health, and then Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia for um residency. And now I'm at Northwestern University for my fellowship in RAI.
SPEAKER_02:So very cool. So very proud of you. So I I love that you just gave us that quick little overview of where you went. But you know, I think of you sometimes as still that little sister, and I could see you like playing soccer and dancing and doing all these really cool things, but being so incredibly focused and determined to get into med school. And okay, so if I cry, just ignore that. But just so proud of everything that you've done along the way. And I would love for you, if you can, just to share with us a little bit about how you got here. Because I I think back to early days when you started talking about medicine and what you wanted to do and and going overseas and doing things and just kind of share what you want with us about what got you here.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Um, obviously, you know, the path is like super long. Um, and it's definitely a process that I think takes determination and as well as like really understanding why you're going into this field, because you can definitely get discouraged along the way. I think um, as you know, our dad was a lot older. And so I think what first got me into medicine was just being exposed to the healthcare system at a very young age and seeing just the medical providers take care of my dad when he had like had cancer and then the brain tumors. Um, and I think when I was in my undergraduate career, I actually I started off as pre-med and started questioning whether is this truly the career path? Because it's actually very rigorous. Um and I was working two jobs at the time, and just you you question like how smart are you and whatnot. Um, with that being said, I did do some medical mission trips abroad that I was more like, you know, in in the field doing stuff from like like what internal medicine doctors do with just histories, physical exams. I did some like gynecological stuff, and I really felt kind of re-energized after those medical trips. Um, and so essentially I think it kind of just made sure I completed my prerequisites and then I applied. And actually, the first time I applied, I applied um broadly, and I got one interview and I applied for two different like um like the MD track or like a DO track. They're both like doctors, but one focuses more on osteopathic medicine. Um, and I got an offer, but it was super early on, and they required like a like they wanted a huge down payment that was not refundable. And so I was like, let me just see what the rest of the interview season goes or how it goes. And essentially I got waitlisted and then I actually did not get in the first time I applied. And so that again was a very hard moment where it like kind of took me back to be like, is this truly something I'm passionate about, want to do? Um, and again, I found that you know, found different things that like re-energized me and like confirmed my purpose. And so I actually reapplied. Um, and then the next time I did the dual degree program where I did the MD program as well as the master's in public health. And so I think really just coming back to like what I wanted and my purpose. Um, and like when I looked at myself in the long term, like I I this is morbid, but I say like on my deathbed, what do I want to look back at and remember? Like, what was my legacy? What did I, what did I do? And I always have thought like, you know, being and working with people and patients and families and making a difference is something that I think I'll never get bored of. And still to this day, even I'm, you know, I'm now in how many years? I'm I think I've done like, yeah, 12 12 years of training. I'm now in my 13th year of fellowship, and I still I I don't regret my decision whatsoever.
SPEAKER_02:So I have to laugh because I always tell people that I went to school for 27 years. I'm one of those strange ones that you know my my doctorate is different, but still doctorate. But you have been in school for longer than me, I think, right? From the time you entered Kinder, even yeah. A long time.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. I think so. You know, and I think it's important to say too, just for everyone, and that everyone knows this, because it's not as though you had a ton of role modeling for this or dollars for this. You came from a home of two hardworking parents, but neither one of them with higher education. And a number of children, we've talked about we're a great many. We shared the same father who had five originally, and then seven more that you belong to. And so when you're one of many children, there aren't, unless you're extremely wealthy, there aren't a lot of resources. And so you also grew up super resourceful and super independent and super finding your way. And so much credit to you. And I just think that's so important to share with everyone. Like, there was not a thing here handed to you. Great support, great love of you, but you made all of this happen.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I'm happy you say that because when I like reflect on my journey, I do think like I always go back to our big family and like my parents, and it play it has played a pivotal role in like my work ethic. I do find myself very resourceful, but I think it's also like having such a big family and like how many kids we had, and just being around all even like our my nieces and nephews from the first five of you. It's really kind of I think played a role and also why I've chosen the career path of being an reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist because that's what we're we're like building families, and I have such wonderful, fond memories of like, you know, our family, and like to have that is something special.
SPEAKER_02:I love it, I love it. And you you highlighted, and of course, we got to witness the determination and the perseverance. And I do remember your journey of not getting in the first time and then and then taking additional courses that summer and really beefing things up. And I remember just thinking, like, wow, how do you have that in you to do that? And work a job and still be very social and do a lot of really fun things. I mean, you have done you've seen more of the world than I have, and I'm, you know, 20 plus years older than you. You you've done these amazing things.
SPEAKER_03:And Diane, you mentioned earlier the physical fitness, too. I mean, Allie is a real fitness fiend. It's always has been so active and continues to be, blows my mind.
SPEAKER_02:I wanted to ask Allie, because one of the things you recently said on your own social media, which I thought was really valuable, um, I remember being young, going to graduate school. Um, you were young and have far surpassed what what I've done. You're beautiful and incredibly intelligent. And I remember you sharing a long time ago what somebody had said to you about not being able to be taken seriously because really of your beauty and you know what what that was like. Can you just share a little bit about that? Because I think I think that's so important for people to hear from it.
SPEAKER_03:And everybody's also, everybody's not seeing Allie right now. It's important to say, because this is not just two sisters who are very fond of you and are looking at you. I mean, Allie is undeniably a gorgeous person by anybody's standards. And so, and she's blonde and fabulous, and so is going to present a certain way to the world. So, okay, the question goes back to you, Allie.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you, though. You're you're too sweet. Um, yeah, to be honest, I actually was really taken back by this comment. So I I did a semester at sea when I was in undergrad, um, where I actually did research on the ship with a doctor who actually was one of my first, like really important mentors in my like career path to medicine. It was like the first time I was really getting into how to do research. And like research is something very important, like from an early stage. And so I worked with him all semester, but we stayed in touch because he knew I wanted to apply to medical school. And so one time when he was in town because he was from another um state and university, we met to go over just like me applying and the application process. And I remember at our meeting, like one of his last comments to me was basically that I should maybe because I high I do highlight my hair, but that I should maybe like not have it as highlighted and because people might foresee me the wrong way with my bubbly personality. And basically it like was an inference of like people might not see me as like perceive me as essentially like non-intelligent. Um and it really like stuck with me, and I I shared this comment with like other people too, because you do you start to question like, should I change how I'm perceived or how I present myself? And it really like comes back to like trying to trust in yourself and believe in yourself and have your own confidence um to really not not listen to someone. So it was actually very hard, and I'm very happy I I didn't listen to this individual. I mean, they were very helpful in other regards, but it it just was a comment that I think I was taken back to because this person was an important mentor in my early journey of going to medicine.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and how neat that you can I don't know if you see yourself as a role model, but I'm I know that you've worked with a lot of younger doctors and medical students coming up behind you and for them to get to kind of see you as a mentor and a role model now and and knowing that they can be themselves when they enter this profession.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I I think it's I think it's uh very important um that people should and they should embrace themselves um and also be not ashamed of like their um hardships or failures along the way. Even sometimes, like even though where I'm at right now, and it's like, oh yeah, it took me twice, I had to apply. It's still sometimes like an ego thing, but it's like, no, like this is my journey, and like other people have their own journey. And I think embracing that um is important, especially if you want to inspire like future generations to follow certain paths.
SPEAKER_03:For sure. The big deal there is not that you had to apply a second time, it's that you did and that you saw it through. You stayed the course, you followed your heart and your passion, and here you are carving this way. It's just really extraordinary and truly a model for anyone. So bravo you, and I too am so proud of you. But even if I didn't know you, I would so admire all that I see and all that you're doing, and truly you're um just holding to yourself, to your heart and your vision. I mean, that's a that's a very big deal, especially when you come from a big family like that, where you're, you know, it's easy to get lost. I know, I can, you know, speak from my own experience. It's easy to get lost in the mix and to carve your own identity in your own way and to be celebrated is glorious. All right, so girl, so as we've been talking, we're here, you know, we talk a lot about hope and just the sheer act of being a part of the medical field, right, is filled with hope. And we talked about your um your hope through having to do with um both compassion and education. Hope through compassionate education, which we love. So can you talk to us a little bit about what gives you hope in the world and what hope through compassionate education means to you?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Um, well, in general, I think what gives me hope, one from just like a medical perspective. I think hope from my interactions with my patients every day. Um, I did four years of obstetrics and gynecology training. And I think just in general, I worked a lot with women's um health. And, you know, you see them when you're OPGYN from like the time they're 18 all the way to the time they are going through like menopause and on. So you get to see women in every stage of life. So I think just interactions through patients and like their life journeys give me hope. I think from an REI perspective, um, it's now all a lot of it is around like family building. Um, and so every like patient I'm seeing, you know, we're hoping to build their family like together with like the wonders of medicine, but also um it takes a lot of you know psych psychological, I guess, resilience on the pay patients and their families' ends to even undergo processes like IBF and like trying for our family. So my interactions, I think, overall with patients provide hope. Um, and I also, when you think about compassion, I think it's just in general with outside of medicine, just with relationships with my friends, my family, with strangers, I think um having meaningful connections with people, um, compassionate connections with people, I think are important. Um, what going from like strangers all the way to people you love and know well.
SPEAKER_03:Well, and certainly in the medical field, I know any patient would say how far it goes to to work with a practitioner who is compassionate and aware of them as a human being who's really who's going through something, whatever it is. It makes all the difference in the world. So, I mean, there are a number of people out there who are who are and are going to be so blessed by just that heart of yours and that approach that you take to medicine.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I really, I, I really enjoy my time with my patients. Um, I will say when you you asked me a second question about like what does like compassionate education mean to me as well. Um for that I will say, so I mean, just in general, educating people about topics, conditions, diagnoses, um, important matters like the medical journey, kind of what we're talking about, you know, the failures I've been like that that's a form of education. Um I think and being like compassionate and doing that, especially when you're interacting with people, trying to understand where your your audience is coming from, where people are coming from, where patients are coming from, um, and bringing that information in a tangible form to those like individuals that you think are going to be receiving that information or education. Um, and I think that's more important nowadays, um, even more so like from a social media standpoint. Um, I actually have a marketing major like background. And one big thing when we think about like education, most people are going like to social media platforms for education um on like just important topics, and a lot of it can be maybe misconstrued or not necessarily the correct information. And so trying to put out like trustworthy compassionate content um I think is important. Um, and so I know people in the medical field are trying to move towards that direction to try to um promote more informative and evidence-based information.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and that is so important. I love that you said that that evidence-based P research background because there is so much misinformation on the internet and on all the social media platforms. So it's great when people like you are willing to step up and have this professional platform to share valid, valuable information. And I will say, watching you just do this over the last few weeks, they're fun too. I am well past having my babies. I'm not having any more. Someday maybe be a grandma, who knows? But I still find it so much fun to watch. And I think, oh my gosh, like even just when I was younger, how much I would have loved that. Oh, really, if I did some of these things, that might have made my getting pregnant journey easier. Like, how amazing that would have been to have that information then. So yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Totally. And I know, and I was saying earlier that because I I am somebody who did go through infertility for years and had one child and adopted another child. Um my gosh, how much just the little bits that I'm hearing from you in the what you put out right now, like, oh man, I wish I had had that and I had someone like you to turn to for some very clear, straightforward and truly compassionate information. I feel that from you and what you're sharing, and I love it.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, great. Well, I'm so happy that you you actually see some value in it because it is when you start doing it, you're just like, I hope people like appreciate it or this is educational. And you you really don't get much like feedback on whether or not people find it educational or helpful. So it's nice to hear that. And I think one of my fiance, he always says, just like say what, say what's important to you, and like the people who are gonna want to know that stuff are gonna come find you. So if you are passionate about what you're sharing and talking about, that's the most important part.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, for sure, for sure. You're here. Let me ask you, because you you talked about the connections you make with your patients, uh the connections in your family, which are so important. And and Donna and I talk about a lot about soul connections and what that's like. I how do you get the confidence to do what you do? Because even I I'm sitting here looking at you, Allie. I'm watching this whole progression over the last many years that that I've known you now, right? And thinking, like, how do you have, I don't know, the guts, the chutzpah, the just, I mean, that the that you could just do it. Put yourself out there in social media, connect with these patients who are going through some really difficult times. Um, I don't know, to go through the interview process, just all of those things. How do you, how do you did, were you born with the confidence? Did you develop it? Did you push yourself through something? Can you talk a little bit about that?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think that's a great question. And I think it's obviously there's multiple components. Um, I think just one big component is like through failure. Like, you know, when you get knocked down, you know, you get back up and the you know, you know, yeah, I know the song. Um, you know, there's multiple times where it's like I'd put myself out there and I'd like get knocked down. I mean, even from I don't know, going back to even high school, like I would run for these positions in the student body, and like you're like promoting yourself, and then I wouldn't get picked, and it was just like it hurt you. So like it really was like an ego thing, but then you're like, no, I'm just gonna try again. Like this is important to me. And so I think through like putting yourself out there and like having those failures, it gives you perspective where it's it's not you're you're all like if you keep moving forward, you're you're gonna get to what is where you're supposed to be. So I think those failures are very important to build confidence. And I always think like I'm a big believer, like everything happens for a reason. Like the first time I didn't get into med school, you know, I reapplied. I got into that dual degree program where I did my master's in public health. I wasn't even thinking about doing a master's in public health the first time around. So it I think it was all meant to be.
SPEAKER_03:So we've known you to be this resourceful person always. We've known you to be go-getter, bubbly was the word that you use. We've known that always. But so let's say you were able to talk to that kid that you were, say about 12, 13, and uh, you know, what do you think she would say to you and about you? What would she think about where you are right now?
SPEAKER_00:Um, I think my 12-year-old self would say that she's very, very proud of me. Um that I think she's accomplished what like she envisioned that time that long ago. It gets emotional because you like it is such a journey. Um but I think through this whole journey, it's like it's all it's also hard to reflect on like where you've where you've been and where you are now. And so I think that's also very important. Um, but it is like you just hearing like, oh, you did it. It's like my 12-year-old like being a cheerleader for me. Like, I'm so proud of you. And obviously, I think when I was 12, I had my like I envision myself being, I don't, I mean, I don't know if I knew I was gonna be a physician at that point, but I knew I wanted to do something helping people. Um, but now it's like I'm at a different stage where it's like, okay, what's next? Like I'm getting to my career and now I have a whole new perspective of what's next. And I think my 12-year-old I just like had this big dream and I was able to, I think, get there. And so I think she's very proud of me and is still cheering me on now to see like what I can do, what can I keep on doing?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, what's next? Like, okay, we did it. What's the next thing we're gonna accomplish? Which is very cool. So, yeah. So I I bet that if your 12-year-old self was looking at you now, you would be an inspiration. I'm curious, Ali, who inspires you or what inspires you?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah. Um, there's a a lot of things, I feel like, or a lot of people who have inspired me along the way. Um, I think it starts one with just like my mom and my dad. So my dad and my mom both worked kind of in tandem and like inspired me to like work hard, put my best foot forward. Um, and that like quality matters over quantity. I think they really instilled that and even started from like chores that they would make me do. And my mom would remake us do things if the quality was not there. But I think they were good life lessons. And I think that like kind of inspired me to just be more detail-oriented, I think. Um, and like both my parents, you know, they didn't finish college, um, but they both I think inspired me to like go to college and like really chase my dreams and what makes me happy. It's not like they pigeoned me, pigeon-holed me into like one career path. I mean, if I said I didn't want to go to college, I think they would have been okay with that as well. Um, but it kind of was like dream big was the messaging from my parents. So I think that was um uh really important. Um, because then I think because they taught me to dream big, I was able to truly like envision that. Obviously, I have many sisters above me who have paved very successful lives and careers, and like literally all the girls are very successful in what they've done. So I think of me being the youngest, I fortunately like, although it's not necessarily always been like, you know, in medicine, but it's different areas and just seeing that you're able to come from a family where you have to work hard and that you can accomplish what you want to do. Um that has played a role in it. And then obviously throughout my like career, I have certain people that um have been like important why I chose OBGYN. Like I found somebody that I really um in like there are qualities about this person and how they interact with people around them that you're like, oh, I just want to be just like you, like you're such a good listener, you're so compassionate, your patients love you. And so you just you find people and it kind of inspires you um in different ways. So I say my parents, I think my sisters, and then obviously I have people from my career path. Um, and specifically REI, I have to thank Dr. Kuas and Dr. Hip at Emery. They play key roles at Emery, um really making me feel confident in my decision to go to REI.
SPEAKER_02:That's so awesome. I love that. And I I well, I love that you kind of have a shout-out to them also, but even just talking about like one door closes and you just kept going and and really made the door open for you, and the fact that you ended up at that program for your residency and were able to learn from those doctors. I mean, that's like that's you made that happen, you know, it's um just amazing. So yeah, I I'm I'm looking forward to seeing all the, you know, what comes next for you also, just like your little 12-year-old self. I want to see where you go, what's after this fellowship, and you know what amazing things you do.
SPEAKER_00:So I do want to highlight that because going back to just like failures, I think it's important. Um, when you go through, I don't know if you guys know anything about the matching process, but basically you submit your application, you get interviews at X amount of those applic at those like uh places, and then you make a rank list. So basically you are ranking, like say you interviewed at 10 programs, you rank them one through 10, and then they're ranking everyone they interviewed, and then it goes into a computer system, and then you have a day that you get an email and you open it up, and that's where you're going. So you really don't have like, I want to go here, I'm for sure, like going here, or they're they didn't offer me the job, I'm gonna go to the next person. It's really like that's where you're going and you're moving anywhere to go. And so I bring this up because when I actually went to residency, Emery was like lower on my list, and it would take me by surprise when I matched there. And I was in like shock because I didn't even think I would go that low on my list. But truthfully, it was like a blessing in disguise. They had such a strong REI program. It like allowed for me to do so much research during my residency career. So just anybody who listens to this who's on like the medical journey, just things happen for a reason and it's gonna work out. And you also make the best of the opportunities you're given. And you, as long as you're resourceful and you're determined, you will figure it out.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And if I'm points, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:If I'm correct, and maybe I'm remembering this incorrectly, so you can tell me I am, but I think you wanted to stay in California, which is where we are were all born and raised. I think that was kind of like the hope to remain in California. So making that move across country for school and for residency was not originally in your plan, but amazing things happened because of those moves. So absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:And I will say, like, twofold. Obviously, like once I like mashed at these other places, or like even for med school when I went to Miami, like you obviously get the sense of impending like doom, kind of. It's like I'm like, oh my God, am I really moving across the country? But then it's like a mindset where it's like this is such a great opportunity. I'm like truly going out on my own, nobody is with me from my family or my like safety net. So it challenges you in different ways. Um, so I think that is also a very wonderful opportunity that I had. And I got to understand the United States more from like, you know, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, living in all different states. They're all very different.
SPEAKER_03:And yeah, like the best education, right, is travel. And then especially when you can live in a place for a piece of time, and it just definitely makes you open to open to people, right? Yeah. But it's important to say too, even as you're talking about this, and you know, it you said, well, it's a mindset moving across country and opportunity and all of this, but that mindset is a choice, and so. That's you had to choose this mindset. It didn't just wash over you. You didn't just magically go, oh, okay, here's this great opportunity. You had to lean into that, which I think is an important factor for everyone to know. It's it's it's a choice whether you're how which way you're going to let yourself, your your mindset be directed, right?
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. And this actually now I kind of remembered my thought previously, but it is a mindset. And one thing, like, you know, whenever I'm like going to do something that's like new or like a challenging situation, or I just feel like, you know, insecure or not confident in myself, it truly is a mindset where I'm like, Allie, no, you're gonna put on your big girl pants and you're gonna do it and like step in there. Like, even with like, you know, sometimes there's like conflict resolution with like patients or people who aren't happy or something I've never done before, you know, like even like an interview. It's like, no, you can do this, and you give yourself a little pep talk, and then I I literally tell myself, put on your big girl pants, you can do it. And then you just do it, and then you're like, wow, I did it. So that's also something that like boosts my confidence as I challenge myself to do things that make me uncomfortable. I think there is being uncomfortable is a good thing.
SPEAKER_03:That's awesome. So, girl, do you have to get you through and to help you stay in that mindset? Do you have a particular life philosophy? Is it is it like put on your big girl pants? Like, what is that life philosophy that um holds you in good stead through all the ups and downs?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think there's probably two two major things that I have found most helpful to myself for myself. Obviously, I think everyone probably has their own thing, but one is exercise. It's always been super, super important um to me. I was very active, as you know. I played a lot of sports growing up, like soccer, but it's literally not only for like my physical health, but for my emotional mental health. I feel like it kind of resets me with like the endorphins that get released. And so even if I'm in like a challenging time in my life for a day, it's like a reset. So I think really prioritizing physical fitness um in some form. Um, and then obviously I am I'm really big in, I'm a big planner, but I also I love Sundays because it's kind of like my reset for the week where I do like my meal prep, my like kind of like self-reflections too. Um, and depending on whether or not like if I'm feeling like in a func, I go like kind of more into like like what is like my current purpose, what are my short-term goals, what are my long-term goals? Um, like am I happy where I'm at, like emotionally, physically, and things like that, I think are important. And obviously now with my fiance, we um do a lot of this together too, because we want to be like on the same page. And the goal is for us to like have you know continue to have self-growth with each other alongside each other.
SPEAKER_02:I I love that. And you are so incredibly active, and I am not, but I'm getting I'm starting again. And this morning I got up and I did my yoga, and then I was in front of the computer all day working, and I thought, I'm gonna be talking with my little sister pretty soon. I need to take my break and go for a walk. So I did a two-mile walk before coming back. Amazing.
SPEAKER_00:You did yoga though this morning, too. So that's that's a great reset, too. Stretching, like your mind, it's all wonderful.
SPEAKER_02:I'm working on it. I'm working on it. So, so okay, this I think we're coming to the point, Donna, right?
SPEAKER_03:That we teach let's do it.
SPEAKER_02:So, Allie, this is where we ask you questions and we call them rapid fire because they're really just the first thing that comes to your mind, don't stress about it, just give us your quick answers. And um, obviously, no right or wrong, and they don't really have to be rapid, but we just don't want you to have to think about it at all. So okay, so I'm gonna start with the first one. If you walk it up onto the stage and you know they play that music, what would be your walk-in song as you come up to the stage?
SPEAKER_00:Ooh, this just popped into my head, so I'm gonna say it, but it's you gotta fight for your right to pay or play hard.
SPEAKER_02:That is perfect for you. Yes, I love it.
SPEAKER_03:That's so good. Okay, what book changed you?
SPEAKER_00:Changed me. That is a hard question.
SPEAKER_03:You can also pivot it to what book do you just really love?
SPEAKER_00:That's okay, I'll I'll do that. Um, well, I'll do a series. I don't know if you know Colleen Hoover. All of her books I really, really enjoy. Um, yeah, I don't know if they've like changed me, but they've really made me read and find time for them in my medical career.
SPEAKER_02:Good. That's important. Balance of very, yes. Balance. Yeah. What movie lives rent-free in your brain? Oh, sweet home Alabama. Oh, oh, very fun.
SPEAKER_03:Yay. I didn't know that about you. It's a fun thing to know. Okay, what did you love doing as a kid? I think I know this answer. What did you love doing as a kid that you love doing to this day?
SPEAKER_00:I think you know this answer. Wow.
SPEAKER_03:I think you've already been talking about it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, I mean, I would there's so many things, but love doing as a kid that I love doing now. I mean, I love working out and being active. Um, I love being with my family and celebrating holidays. We're really big on holidays, and so always making a celebration out of even the small holidays.
SPEAKER_03:The tea party will live again.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I know.
SPEAKER_02:I love, I was just telling someone about our tea party on this coast. You're in Chicago for three years. I'm like, hey, Donna, you come back on to the New England.
SPEAKER_03:We are gonna make it happen. We will do it.
SPEAKER_02:Amy and Amber will come too. I'm sure they will. They will happen. And our niece, our niece in Ohio wants to come. So, yes.
SPEAKER_00:Actually, that is literally what I should have said because I remember I got a plastic tea set when I was little, and Amber got a glass one, and I was still scarred by that because I was so upset. Oh, I wanted my glass tea set.
SPEAKER_03:That is funny. We can make that happen for you.
SPEAKER_02:Your question, sis. Allie, what in your world is lighting you up right now?
SPEAKER_00:I think change in like residency or fellowship. I said residency, but change in fellowship. I think having to move to a new city, learning. I literally I feel like I'm starting at the beginning of learning everything. So I feel like just this new desire to like learn everything with these like new patients in the field of REI. I feel like that, and then living in Chicago is a really fun time.
SPEAKER_03:What a great city and a great place to be. I mean, oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_00:Who knew that Chicago was so amazing? I had no idea. And it actually is beautiful, and there's so much to do.
SPEAKER_03:It is an exceptional city, a great place to visit. And I know a number of people who are from there, live there, who adore it. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Come visit me. I I will visit you, it's already on my list. But you, you and my other younger sisters grew up watching Gray's Anatomy. I grew up watching ER, which took place in Chicago. So that to me is like an amazing, amazing place. So there you go.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, what color is hope?
SPEAKER_00:I think white. Yeah. To me, white seems like hope. And also because they say white, you know, reflects all the colors. Uh-huh. Yeah. Um I just think it's also like a clear canvas, like you can put anything on there. So to me, I would say white.
SPEAKER_02:I love it. I love it. Yeah. What does hope sound like?
SPEAKER_00:I would say either like the rain or ocean sounds. I don't know. I that I and I think that kind of correlates with like whenever I feel like I need reflection or hope, I'm like, I'm going to an ocean or like I need like a babbling creek or like something to like water. Water is just like the sound of it.
SPEAKER_01:Awesome.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, complete this statement with just a word or a phrase. Compassionate education is humble and all encompassing.
SPEAKER_01:Gorgeous. I like it. Okay, like this. Family is everything. I knew it. Yes, it is. Yeah. Love is selfless. And how about the meaning of life is you want to say it like endless, like endless is what I would say.
SPEAKER_03:I agree. All right, lastly, hope is inspiring. Yeah, yeah. Well, you inspire us incredibly. You always have. You've always that um ball of energy and light and can-do spirit. You were born that way, we can attest. You have always had that, and that you've kept that alive and burning bright, and then just you are in your element now. It's just a beautiful, beautiful thing to see. And not only am I proud of you, but I'm very, very happy for you that this is the life you're lead leading of your own making. Incredible. Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you. I'm so happy we got to see each other and I got to be on this podcast. It's wonderful.
SPEAKER_03:Thank you for joining us.
SPEAKER_02:Go ahead. Before we wrap up, though, I wanted to everybody knows how they can find you. So I know you're on social media, I know you're practicing in Chicago. If somebody is looking for you, where can they find you?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Um, well, so I am a practicing fellow at Northwestern. Um, but you can find me on my social media handles. I have an Instagram page that is AliHerwick MD. And then I have a TikTok page that is exactly the same thing at AliHerwick MD.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, perfect. And we will make sure we post those with this podcast and everywhere we post it on our own socials. Your information there.
SPEAKER_03:So everybody following, I mean, not only like, follow, share us, but go to Ali Ali with an I, Ali HerwickMD, and like, follow, share there as well. Totally worth it. Very much worth your time to listen. Little snippets of gold, and plus, you get the sunshine of Allie while you listen in. Allie, thank you. Thank you, thank you for joining us. Yes, I'm so happy to be here.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, we love you. Thank you, everyone. Thanks for joining us today on Soul Sistories.
SPEAKER_03:And thanks for sharing stories with us. We'd love to hear your stories as well and keep the conversation going, absolutely keeping the hope going. So we're really hopeful that you'll connect with our guests as well who have great stories to share. Go ahead and follow them in various social media platforms or live venues, wherever it is that they're performing and uh sharing what they do.
SPEAKER_02:We would love to have you follow us on all of our social media platforms, subscribe and rate, as that will help us get our message of hope out to others.
SPEAKER_03:Thanks for listening to Soul Sisteries.
