Stay tuned for Season 2 of Debriefing With the DOPe Doctor. We’re celebrating success in the Black community all season long. We have an unwavering commitment to creating an environment where everyone can bring their authentic selves and feel valued and respected. We’ll be interviewing Black professionals across New York State to keep you inspired as you travel your own path to success.

How do we become great leaders? The Honorable JaHarr S. Pridgen tells us it’s a combination of being resilient, staying grounded, knowing your purpose, and heeding advice from mentors. Do you feel you can’t escape your circumstances? Judge Pridgen encourages you to keep dreaming and focus on education. Need a boost in your motivation? Get ready to learn why Judge Pridgen says your current status in life does not have to be your future status.

Judge JaHarr S. Pridgen — the first Black female Chief Judge of Buffalo City Court — used to remind herself, when interacting with colleagues from privileged backgrounds: I don’t have what they have; I have to work 200 times harder. She shares disappointments she has experienced but notes that she doesn’t necessarily consider them failures. Don’t miss her perspectives on building a career when you’re not born into a life of privilege, balancing time and priorities, facing imposter syndrome, and making sacrifices. She also covers the importance of familial support and establishing mentoring and community connections. Plus, benefit from her wisdom on why it’s critical to never second guess yourself.

JaHarr S. Pridgen is the first woman Chief Judge of Buffalo City Court. After working as a district attorney, she became a city court judge in 2015 — and she, at age 34, was the youngest jurist on the bench. She is a role model to many women, particularly young Black women. Judge Pridgen grew up on Coit Street, lived on Carl Street and considers herself a “Ken-Bailey woman” at heart. So, how did she go from Coit Street to the courthouse? Learn about the genesis of her journey in this first segment of a three-part series.

In this concluding episode, Dr. Myron Glick shares golden wisdom nuggets from his journey to empower you when running your own race. Listen to learn how he overcame the grit to successfully sail the ship of Jericho Road Community Health Center to safety. Discover how and why this multi-award-winning humanitarian organization prioritizes the provision of affordable healthcare to underserved communities and how Dr. Myron Glick is propagating his dream and legacy by investing in the upcoming generation of medical providers.

Dr. Myron Glick and his wife created Jericho Road Community Health Center. Their journey was nothing like anyone would have expected, putting their financial, family, faith, and life values to the test.

On Debriefing With The DOPe Doctor, find out why Dr. Glick doesn’t see his life and career struggles as “sacrifices” in the way that we typically think about sacrifices.

As an Amish kid, his career dream defiled the community beliefs. But he dared to own the dreams despite challenges of almost flunking out of college. Who would have thought that the kid that all but one medical school rejected would become the founder and CEO of an organization that serves over 26,000 economically deprived patients in the US and over 90,000 in economically deprived countries annually?

Delve into Part 1 of a three-part interview with Dr. Glick.

Pastor Kinzer Pointer knew, from a young age, that he would be a preacher. He was an evangelist before he was ever an officially ordained pastor. He knows there are many doorways that lead to faith.“Know yourself. Control yourself,” is advice his mentor once gave him.” Hear more about the lessons Pastor Pointer has learned in life, which can benefit us all.

When Larry Daniel patrols the halls of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, he’s doing more than his duties as security guard; he’s doing God’s work. Larry — a pastor at the St. James House of Prayer Church of God in Christ — is a pillar in the Western New York community. See how his belief in the goodness of humankind gives him strength in the face of hardship.

Dr. Anyango Kamina is undoubtedly a success. She has held various leadership roles at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, and she earned a doctoral degree in microbiology and immunology. But “success” is so much more than definable achievements. Her road to success has been paved with challenges.