'Lean In' with Lt. Gen. West

By Mr. Wesley P Elliott (Army Medicine)November 4, 2016

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Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (Nov. 4, 2016) -- Lt. Gen. Nadja West, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command, explained during a live interview with Sheryl Sandberg, Chief operating officer at Facebook, on Nov. 3, that she would not have gone to medical school if it wasn't for one piece of advice.

"The worst they can say is no"

"When I was younger, I was afraid, I would hold back. I went to medical school because I ran into a mentor. I didn't think I was good enough for medical school."

West recounts a meeting with a plastic surgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who encouraged her when he stated, "Why not? What is the worst that you can do? Lose the application fee. So what do you have to lose? If you don't apply, you definitely won't get in."

"Don't ever let anyone sway you from your dreams, if you can think it and dream it -- and you're prepared -- then I say go for it. Go for it and don't hold back," said West.

The live interview was part of a series of Facebook-broadcast interviews with successful women to support LeanIn.Org, which is the nonprofit organization founded by Sandberg to empower all women to achieve their ambitions.

"I try to be myself, sometimes you feel like you need to play a role, or alter who you are, but to me, leaning in is about being myself," said West.

The 'Lean In' organization stems from Sandberg's belief that professional women often lean back in their careers to make room for family roles. She feels women become overwhelmed attempting fit all of the roles and expectations into their life and decide to stop volunteering for promotions, new projects, and start to lean back in their careers.

In 2013, Sandberg co-authored the book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" about business leadership and the lack of women in government and business leadership positions.

The 17 minute video is available on the Army Medicine and 'Lean In' Facebook pages.

Related Links:

Lean In Facebook Page

Army Medicine Facebook Page