Living with MS: A Physician's Perspective
Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee-Morris, a double board-certified OBGYN and obesity medicine specialist, shares her inspiring journey through medical education, the challenges she faced, including the loss of her father and her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. She discusses how these experiences shaped her career and her perspective as a physician, emphasizing the importance of understanding patient frustrations and the drive to make the most of her health while she can. In this conversation, Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee-Morris shares her journey of living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) while pursuing her passion for medicine. She discusses the importance of maximizing life experiences despite health challenges, the transition from corporate medicine to private practice, and the fulfillment that comes from creating a supportive work environment. Dr. Chatterjee-Morris emphasizes the need for physicians to find their passion and the importance of patient-centered care in private practice.
Takeaways
Dr. Chatterjee Morris overcame major personal challenges, including her father’s illness and a delayed multiple sclerosis diagnosis, which shaped her path and perspective in medicine.
She pursued her medical education in Poland, embracing a rigorous system comparable to the U.S. for greater opportunity and personal growth.
Her experience as a patient—initially dismissing her symptoms—has made her a more empathetic and proactive physician who prioritizes both treatment and lifestyle to manage her condition.
She refuses to let MS define her. She lives with urgency and gratitude, saying, “I want to do as much as I can while I can,” and aims to live without regret.
She urges others to find what fills their cup—what makes their “engine roar”—and to pursue it wholeheartedly, even when the journey, like running a private practice, is hard.
Recognizing the pendulum swing of healthcare, she emphasizes building a practice where staff feel appreciated, seen, and supported—because culture and care start at the top.
Learn more about Suzanna Chatterjee-Morris, MD
Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee-Morris is dual board-certified in OB-GYN and obesity medicine. After losing her father in college and facing academic challenges, she pursued medical school in Poland, graduating in the top 5 of her class and matching into a surgical specialty. Early in her career, she was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and told she'd never deliver a baby again. But with a second opinion and proper treatment, she’s defied expectations—opening her own private practice in 2021, launching a med spa, mentoring students, and continuing to deliver babies across multiple hospitals. She’s also navigating infertility while supporting patients through their own. Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling, DIY projects, and serving her community as Rotary Club President. Through her journey, she hopes to inspire others to believe they can overcome anything.
