Member of Adelphi University’s 10 Under 10
Physician, Saint Thomas Medical Partners – Nashville
“At Adelphi I was able to find things that brought me joy as well as challenged me both mentally and personally. Groups such as Christian Fellowship and Student Government enriched my time at Adelphi in ways I will never forget”Passionate about medicine and committed to making a difference in the lives of others, Dr. Lorraine Alexis Charles ’09, MD is doing just that as a physician.
She is a doctor at Saint Thomas Medical Partners – Nashville. According to its website, Saint Thomas Health “sustains and improves the health of the communities we serve” and is “committed to healing and dedicated to service, especially to persons who are poor or needy, reflecting the spiritual core of our mission, vision and values.”
Dr. Charles practices full-spectrum family medicine. “I have been fortunate to care for the entire family…I see both granddaughter and grandmother for a check-up,” she said. “This brings me lots of joy as I become a member of the family.”
In her spare time, Dr. Charles volunteers with organizations that provide medical care to underserved populations here in the United States as well as abroad in her family’s home country of Haiti. She enjoys doing mobile clinics in undeveloped areas and travels there once a year.
Dr. Charles’ journey began in New York. Growing up in Brooklyn, she wanted to go to school in the tri-state area. She recalls loving Adelphi from the moment she visited campus and being impressed by the students she met during her visit who said “they would pick it all over again.”
At Adelphi, in addition to her pre-med studies, she studied history. Her favorite class was History 101 with mentor and history professor, Dennis Hidalgo. Ms. Hinda Barlaz of Adelphi’s Writing Center also played an instrumental role in Dr. Charles’ Adelphi experience. “She helped me focus my love for history and science into my medical application,” said Dr. Charles, who credits both mentors with helping her get into medical school.
After graduating from Adelphi in 2009, she spent the following year studying for the MCAT. Dr. Charles began pursuing her medical degree in 2010 at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She started her family medicine residency in 2014 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, Texas where she went on to complete three years of training. Upon graduation in 2017 she accepted a full-time position at Saint Thomas Medical Partners where she has been practicing for the last two years.
Of all her impressive achievements thus far, Dr. Charles considers her family to be the best one. “I believe my greatest accomplishment has been the privilege of being a mother to my two beautiful daughters and raising them with my wonderful husband,” she said.