Dr. Annette Stokes
Dr. Annette Stokes, MD, does not fit the mold for what most people expect of a ‘first lady’ of the church. While certainly she is that, and serves in that role with the same commitment and excellence that she always does, she juggles that role with being a physician, running a successful private practice medical clinic, serving as the Primary Care Provider Manager for the Green Bay outpatient Community Clinic and presiding over the Cream City Medical Society.
“It’s a balancing act. I have a lot on my plate, but I’ve also learned when to step back and step out, to take care of myself. Some people are unable to do that, but it helps me deal with everything. I truly believe in vacations and personal time. If you burn out, you become ineffective in everything,” she said.
Dr. Stokes is anything but ineffective. Early on, she was fascinated with science, particularly how the human body works and its intricacies.
“I’ve always loved science and medicine. At some point, I learned that my grandfather—my mother’s father—was a family doctor. I never knew him because he passed before I was born. Maybe it’s an interest that was passed down to me, and that just intrigued me further. Studying physiology, organic chemistry, microbiology, etc. was very challenging, but people telling me that I couldn’t do it, made me want to work even harder,” she said.
Dr. Stokes received her Bachelor’s Of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She received her Doctorate Of Medicine Degree from Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE in 1994. She also served six years in the United States Air Force. Dr. Stokes has donated her medical services to missions on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana and several Third World Countries including Kenya, South Africa and the Haiti earthquake crisis.
She calls her decision to join the military a “rebound” career and she continues to serve as a reservist.
“I was only 18 years old when I went into the military. I had gone to undergraduate school for one year and found I needed a break. I wasn’t ready to get a “real” job working every day, but I knew I had to do something, so I thought I should go into the military to travel and relax. There was no deep thought about it at all; it was simply a matter of getting a job or going back to school. At the time, military recruiters were coming onto college campuses, I picked up a brochure, and that’s how I ended up in the Air Force,” she said.
Dr. Stokes is the sole owner of a successful Family Medicine clinic—Innovative Health Care SC—located in Brown Deer, WI. She is also the CEO of the Make Me Over Weight Loss Clinic. In addition to her medical practice, she is also managing two Veteran Administration clinics in Cleveland, WI and in Green Bay WI, all while running her private medical clinic in Brown Deer.
“The most rewarding aspect of my medical career is accomplishing what I set out to do—becoming a physician. I went through all the rigors, difficulties, and disappointments, and to be rewarded by receiving my medical degree and being able to return to the community to give back is rewarding. What can be more gratifying than being able to be a role model in the community to those who look like me and who want to aspire to have a career like mine? I love being able to offer the kind of care and concern to my patients that I think they deserve—that they may not be getting elsewhere. Patients come to me knowing that their health is being held to a high standard. I listen to them and try to do everything that I can to be a good physician to them and for them,” she said.
She somehow manages to balance a hectic schedule as wife, physician, business woman, First Lady of Temple Of Judah Church, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and girlfriend. Dr. Stokes believes a life dedicated to Christ with hard work, determination accountability and a good dose of tenacity are the ingredients for a successful, gratifying life.
“My husband and I have been married for almost 35 years. When we got married in 1983, his family was strong in the church, and even though he wasn’t at that time, I was aware of the heritage. We attended his family’s church, and he was called into the ministry. Even though I thought ‘that’s not what we agreed on,’ I understand that God guides our path. Twenty years later, he was called to pastor. We had a long conversation about that because I didn’t feel I had the emotional qualifications to be a First Lady, but I wanted to be there to support him,” she said.
Dr. Stokes said that being First Lady is the most challenging thing she’s ever done, including getting through medical school.
“When individuals are placed in your care and you’re responsible for not only what’s occurring on this earth, but trying to prepare them for the other side—eternity—that’s a big weight. Many people don’t want to listen to your counsel and the church is under attack. Balancing those realities takes a lot of prayer, encouragement and talking to other pastors’ wives to give you insight on dealing with the pressures of being a First Lady. There’s a book, authored by a First Lady called, “When Is the First Lady Ever First.” The reality is she’s the first in ways unimaginable—the first one to be talked about, unjustly targeted and to do everything left undone. Yes, she’s first but not in the ways you may think. I try to stay focused, put things in perspective and learn to prioritize. If you try to do everything in church, in medicine and in your personal life, you will surely burn out. You have to prioritize and make it work,” she said.
Dr. Stokes also said that there are some rewarding aspects of being First Lady, especially working with the children.
“The youth in the church and the young women are really looking for someone to mentor them, to look up to and teach them. When you can mentor the young women and some of the older ones, and make a difference, it makes it all worthwhile. It’s good to see them grow, mature, start to make good decisions and feel good about what they are doing in both their personal life and church. I’ve seen it happen so many times.
“The youth just want to know they have someone to look up to and that they can do it—whatever “IT” is. In many ways the church has become a business, so much of the day-to-day stuff on a higher leadership level is just like what occurs in the world. Trial by fire has allowed me to become more forthright. I’m very outspoken on many things. The squeaky wheel gets heard and that’s me—the squeaky wheel! If there’s something that needs to be said, most likely I’m going to say it,” she said.
In addition to all the other ‘hats’ she wears, Dr. Stokes is serving her second year as president of the Cream City Medical Society, which celebrates its 91st Anniversary this year. Cream City Medical Society is a professional society with membership comprised of physicians, podiatrists, dentists and pharmacists.
“Serving in this capacity, allows me to go to different schools and collaborate to speak with students about careers in medicine and foster mentoring relationships with the UW-Milwaukee Black Pre-Medical Society, and the School of Medicine in both Milwaukee and Madison WI. Our goal is to move forward with promoting Black admissions to medical schools and hiring Black faculty. We are working with the Minority Inclusion Office at the Medical College of Wisconsin to increase admissions of Black students. High on our list is attracting more Blacks to this field. Right now, there’s a high attrition of Black medical doctors in Wisconsin; in fact, all over the country and we need to do something about that. If we don’t, we will have a problem in the future when there are not enough Black physicians to take care of those in need that look like me and are impoverished,” she said.
While her plate is certainly full, Dr. Stokes makes time to relax and travel with her husband, Pastor David Stokes, Senior Pastor of Temple of Judah Church. Together they have one son, Steven A. Stokes, a daughter-in-love, Diamond Stokes, and a three year old granddaughter, Heaven Stokes.
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