Celebrating Black History Month with Dr. Kressida Cain Benson

In celebration of Black History Month, we are spotlighting a handful of our Black physicians who have chosen to share their healthcare journeys with us.

Dr. Kressida Cain Benson is a surgical pathologist in our Pathology department at EAMC. She began her career here with Lee Pathology, LLC in 2008. In this profile, she discusses how her upbringing led her to be a physician. Additionally, she shares extensively about some of the healthcare issues that Black people face and her recommendations for improvements.

Dr. Benson earned her B.S. in Biology from Auburn University at Montgomery and her medical degree from the University of South Alabama. Following medical school, she completed a one year internship in the UAB Montgomery Internal Medicine Residency Program with Baptist Health. Afterward, she returned to the University of South Alabama for a Pathology Residency from 2003-2007, followed by a Surgical Pathology Fellowship at East Carolina University (2007-2008).

On her personal motivation to become a physician:

My motivating factor for becoming a physician is my love of helping people and providing information on what is needed to stay healthy. Also, medicine is fascinating to me; there is always something new to learn.

On the people who inspired her:

I was inspired by my pediatrician who was very nice, smart and soft-spoken. Even though I was always nervous at his office, he always made my visit better than expected. I was also inspired by two of my family members (my great aunt and cousin) who were nurses. My aunt was trained on the job to be a nurse and was a nurse for years. Her daughter, my cousin, was also a nurse. They always had incredible stories to tell which also helped me decide to go into the medical field. I also was able to shadow a surgeon in college and other physicians while participating in a summer medical program for minorities at the University of South Alabama.

On the health conditions for which African Americans can be at a higher risk, and what measures can be taken to better control them:

I feel that African Americans can take certain measures to better control heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. African Americans have a history of eating unhealthy, being inactive, and not visiting a physician regularly. And most times, genetics also play a factor in certain diseases. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, as well as visiting a primary care physician regularly can help tremendously. Patients should also listen to their physician and do exactly what is recommended to maintain a healthy life. Mental health is also very important and should be evaluated.