Being a Brown Female Doctor with Sarah Arachchi

Dr. Sarah Aratchi brings a powerful and heartfelt account of migrating to Australia as a child, reflecting on the everyday realities being “othered” due to her surname and skin colour. She unpacks the lasting impact of being “the brown kid” in school and the constant questioning about where she’s “really from” that followed her into adulthood.The conversation also highlights the subtle ways in which sexism pervades the medical field - from being misidentified as a nurse to continually having to assert her expertise as a doctor. Rather than viewing her dual heritage as a burden, Sarah embraces what she calls being a “cross-cultural kid” - someone who can authentically inhabit multiple cultural spaces. She encourages others to resist the pressure to choose between identities, instead celebrating the richness that comes from blending Australian and heritage cultures through food, traditions, and community. Her journey from exclusion to empowerment illustrates how authentic self-expression can emerge from embracing multiplicity rather than conformity to a single narrative.00:00 Journey of Migration and Childhood Memories06:05 Navigating School Life as a Minority12:00 The Impact of Cultural Questions17:56 Experiences of Sexism in Medicine25:54 Balancing Motherhood and Career33:54 The Strength of Women in Dual Roles38:13 The Journey of a Woman in Medicine39:54 Writing a Memoir: A Personal Reflection42:11 The Emotional Toll of Medicine47:55 Cultural Identity and Migration52:29 Finding Belonging in a Multicultural Society56:06 The Power of Authenticity and AdvocacyResources mentioned:Brown. Female. Doctor. By Sarah Arachchi  (available on Amazon)Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina MarchettaWhere is the Green Sheep? by Mem FoxConnect with Sarah:Instagram: @kidsdoctorsarah---Thank you for listening to From There To Here!If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple PodcastsThis podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.