Meet Saneisha Roberts | Children’s Book Author & Doctor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saneisha Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saneisha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wrote my debut children’s book, Amari Goes to the Doctor, to alleviate the anxiety children feel when they visit their healthcare provider’s office. Many times, children sit in these offices unsure about the procedures that will take place. And some children are unaware of which questions they should ask about their health. As an aspiring pediatrician, I aim to create a safe space where children and their guardians feel encouraged and excited when seeking care. I am a children’s book writer that will continue to create literature where children feel represented and eager to care for their bodies and mental health.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am excited to see children and their families read Amari Goes to the Doctor. I hope they learn something new each time they read Amari’s story. The goal of Amari Goes to the Doctor is to initiate conversations about the reason medical instruments are used and show children that their emotions will be acknowledged during each visit. I was once that nervous child at the clinic with questions jumbled up in my head that I was too scared to ask. When I began writing Amari’s story, I knew it was essential to write openly and honestly to reach children who may have similar questions.

It was and is vital to me that the main characters of my book, Nurse Nahua, Doctor Daisy, and Amari, are characters of color. I think back to many of my favorite children’s books that I enjoyed reading as a child. Though they were fun reads, none of the protagonists looked like me. I want children of color to see themselves in Amari’s journey. I want children to read through the pages of Amari Goes to the Doctor and see characters who look like them because representation matters. I hope the story inspires them to be brave like Amari and possibly even encourages them to pursue careers in the medical field.

I am a product of my community. My journey was not easy when it came to financing my education and the lack of resources I had for my journey into medicine. But with all the hardships, I pushed through. I tackled my goals every time. I want young children who look like me and have a similar upbringing as me to know that though our journey is hard, it is possible to make dreams into realities. If they want to be a doctor and a writer, it is possible.

I am a medical doctor currently applying for pediatric residency and I was also that nervous child that ran out of the doctor’s office. I am now on the other side of the physician’s desk and can talk to children who are curious about the medical setting. My journey was not easy, but it was worth every step. I studied hard so that I could learn the pathologies of different illnesses. I rotated in multiple hospitals and saw how essential it was to approach each patient with care and empathy. I advocate for decreasing the health disparities underserved groups experience in the healthcare system. I hope Amari Goes to the Doctor will initiate conversations that will change many children’s experiences at their physicians’ offices.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend, Latoya, were visiting New York City I would bring her to my favorite spots. Because I am a Brooklynite, I may be a bit biased towards the Brooklyn spots, but we’ll travel to other boroughs as well. In advance, I would tell her to bring her elastic- waist-comfy-pants and sneakers since we’ll most likely be eating and site seeing! We would start “light” with a table spread of Sushi from my favorite sushi spot in Brooklyn, Chikurin. Then we would take the train downtown to Mia’s Bakery for some of my favorite desserts: tres leches cupcakes and baklava. After we’ve ensured that neither of us suffered from a diabetic coma, we would walk through my Bed-Stuy neighborhood and admire the many unique brownstones.

The following day we would visit my favorite spots in Manhattan. I love a spicy food challenge — and I know she will too– so the plan would be to go to Pure Thai Cookhouse in Hell’s Kitchen. A lot of basil dishes will be ordered along with pitchers of water (and milk) on the side. Then we are off to Central Park. I will give her a mini-tour and share the history of Bethesda Fountain, Turtle Pond, The Great Lawn, The Dairy, and the Conservatory Water. I’d definitely want to show her the section of the park which holds my favorite tree, the beautiful Crape Myrtle. If she has any more energy to walk, I would take her to the Museum of Natural History and check out its Human Origin exhibit.

Somewhere around midweek, to avoid Latoya’s feet from rebelling, we would take a day to rest and order burritos from El Jeffe via Uber Eats.

The next day we’ll make our way up to Harlem. After some good eats at BLVD Bistro, we would take a walk to a quiet neighborhood near City College. There will be more admiring brownstones as we crunch through the beautiful autumn leaves. We would end the night at The Shrine on Adam Clayton Blvd and get drinks while dancing to some Afrobeats.

As her trip comes to an end, we’ll wrap things up in Brooklyn. After a lovely brunch at Chez Oskar on Malcolm X Blvd in Brooklyn, we’ll head to downtown Brooklyn to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (for many a Brooklynite, this is a classic spot to visit). We’ll then grab two refreshing ginger lemonades from Lakou and curry chicken and white rice from Irie Kitchen on Utica Avenue. Before she leaves, I’ll most likely apologize because her jeans will be a bit snug (and her feet a bit worn) compared to her arrival, but I know the experience was worth it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out my caring and thoughtful childhood pediatrician, Dr. Ignacio! Though Doctor Daisy is a character in my children’s book, her kindness and impact were inspired by my pediatrician. Initially, I was terrified of the doctors’ office when I was a child. I migrated from Jamaica to America at the age of four and I remember feeling excluded from the conversations my mother and pediatrician held. At the age of nine, I started seeing a new physician, Dr. Ignacio, and felt seen during every visit. During each visit, she checked in on my mental health before I even knew what mental health was. She asked me questions about peer pressure at school and I found myself opening up to her with ease. Dr. Ignacio inspired me to become a pediatrician. I hope to be this same inspiration for a fearful child waiting to see her healthcare provider. I will always be thankful to call Dr. Ignacio my pediatrician.

I also want to shout out to my dear friend Ren who encouraged me to write Amari’s story. When I stare at the finished copy of my book, I often think back to a conversation I had with her when I said, “I wish I could write a book for children so that kids can see that the doctor’s office is a safe place to be.” She quickly replied, “But you can, Bella.” It is because of her encouraging words that I was able to write Amari Goes to the Doctor. I’ve always enjoyed reading literature and briefly pondered the idea of writing a story. With a friend like Ren, something that was once a thought has become my reality. Ren is a writer herself and helped me merge my passions, pediatrics and literature. I will always be grateful for our sisterhood.

Website: saneisharoberts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarigoestothedoctor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmariGoesToTheDoctor