We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Candace Howe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Candace, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

As they say, “I had humble beginnings.” My mother was a single 15 year girl when I was born. My father’s family only later came into my life when I was 20 year’s old. The pregnancy sparked an independent driven young girl to go it on her own. Incredibly, my mother completed college (a first in her family) and ultimately moved us from the MidWest to CA by the time I was 6 years old. In California my mother completed postgraduate school and continued to be an example of love, dedication and a drive to want more from this life. She represented self sufficiency and confidence to me. At age 14 she married my step father whom has been a true strength in my life. He is a source of positivity and has instilled a huge sense of value for family in me. It is with this foundation that I too knew, since I can remember that I wanted to accomplish great goals, give love and support to others and make my life as meaningful and positive as I could. My mission is to serve and enjoy this life – even with its ups and downs.

Candace, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Candace Howe. I was born in Missouri but raised in Orange County, CA. I am happily married with two incredible children. I love God, music, nature, travel, podcasts, skiing, and strive to continue in personal growth. I am grateful for my life and the friends and family that are so dear to me.

I am a general obstetrician gynecologist. I trained at UCLA for medical school and residency. I love advocating for women, their health and meeting their medical needs. I love teaching and have taught residents, nurses and physician assistants since graduating residency in 2006. I now own a private practice and perform surgeries and deliveries at Hoag in Newport Beach. I also perform surgeries at Newport Beach Surgery Center. My partner is Dr. Marina Maslovaric.

I’m fulfilled by being a support to others and love the bonds I have with my family, friends and patients.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is necessary for survival. I see it as the true essence for a successful life. I am sure everyone has had to be resilient in many ways to be thriving individuals in this culture/society that we have created. My beginnings, and desire to eventually achieve lofty goals, absolutely required resilience, perseverance, and pure hope for a better future. As I had described, I was born in the Mid West to a teenage mother. There were times that we lived in government subsidized apartments and even needed help with food subsidies. It was the help from Job Corps and mentors who believed in my mother’s aspirations to be the first graduate from college that gave my mother the beginnings she needed to pursue her goals. Watching her achieve this education and sustain an intense work ethic drove me to follow in her foot steps. I too knew that I wanted to show that I was capable, strong, and yet considerate of my blessings to myself and those around me. I desired to grow in my own right and if possible, help others while I did so. That for me meant that I would pursue a career in medicine.

Medical school and residency in so many ways is a ‘military’ of its own sort. It trains you, toughens your core, and demands that you focus your entire energies on absorbing an outstanding amount of information. There is a hierarchy, competitive nature about it. Many of us break down many times from the experience. The only way to accomplish the goal to be a physician is to have resilience and a true passion for the end goal. It truly is a calling more than just a career.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Not at all. I feel perfectly matched for obstetrics and gynecology. It fulfills everything that I imagined I’d be as a physician – a generalist clinician who cares about the whole person, a surgeon, a deliverer of babies, a therapist of sorts, a supporter of women through their stages of life, and a teacher on many levels (I also teach nurses, PAs and residents). It is demanding and at times exhausting. I do admittedly struggle to find consistent time to give my body the rest, exercise, and sometimes the attention it needs, however I am better able now with my partner, Dr. Maslovaric, as we help each other balance the work/life demands. In the end, the benefits of my field are what give me happiness and fulfillment. I am forever grateful for the honor and privilege of caring for my patients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hmmedicalobgyn.com
• Other: more to come