Physician garners award Young Professional of the Year Award
Dr. Julie Mook, breast surgical oncologist at Breast Care Specialists in Shreveport, was announced the 2013 Young Professional of the Year at the sixth annual Northwest Louisiana Young Professionals Gala on Dec. 13.
The high honor of the evening came after Mook and 39 other young professionals in Shreveport-Bossier City received the 40 Under 40 Award. The 40 young professionals were selected by a special committee of the Greater Shreveport and Bossier Chamber of Commerce and honored at the award dinner, presented by CityLife.
“When I won, I was shocked,” Mook said. “I think I said the word ‘wow’ 32 times on my way up [to the stage].
“It’s an honor to have someone to nominate you and to be selected. It was a very eclectic group of people nominated, and seeing so many people doing so many things is just great for our community.”
Being named the 2013 Young Professional of the Year may have come as a surprise, but Mook has known her future in medical care since childhood.
“I wanted to be a doctor since I was a little kid,” Mook said. “My first grade teacher came to my medical school graduation and said, ‘You said you wanted to do this since first grade, and now you’ve done it.’ It’s something I had wanted to do for a long time, and I have had encouragement from my parents and was just able to push through and do it.”
After receiving a medical education at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, two years ago Mook joined a partnership with Dr. Christopher Sockrider at the Breast Cancer Specialists as a breast cancer surgeon.
“I wanted to be a surgeon. I wanted to ‘fix things’ if you will. And breast cancer is something that I felt was a very narrow and small area where I could truly be an expert in that field. But at the same time still be able to operate and have a relationship with my patients,” Mook said.
Mook has become a leader and pillar of support to people in Shreveport- Bossier City and beyond. Mook extends her medical training through volunteerism with the St. Luke’s Mobile Medical Ministry, Martin Luther King Health Clinic and through mission work abroad. She has been to Africa, China, Cambodia, Jamaica and Mexico on medical mission trips with her church, Broadmoor Baptist Church. Last May, she spent time in the Ukraine assisting with the creation of a sports camp for several orphanages and has since become involved with Lifesong Ministry for Orphans.
Mook is also an active runner. Turning her hobby into another way of battling cancer, she is involved in several running groups in Shreveport and charity races, including a threeday walk to Dallas to support Susan G. Komen Foundation.
She is a volunteer speaker for the Schumpert Cancer Center to local groups and the secretary for the John C. MoDonald Surgical Society. She stepped into her new role as the elected vice president of the Susan G. Komen Foundation Northwest Louisiana Chapter in December. “This has been a great year,” Mook said.
She credits her success to the support of family and friends and her faith. In her acceptance speech at the 40 Under 40 Awards ceremony, she quoted the biblical scripture that has driven her. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required. [Luke 12:48]”
“I definitely get my strength from God and from Christ, and I think to truly serve people like Christ served us is a true motto,” Mook said. “To be able to love without expecting anything in return is the way we all should live, so try to model that. I feel like in my life I’ve been so blessed by the things that’s been given in my life. It’s my responsibility to do things for others who may not have gotten the opportunities I have.”
In 2014, Mook plans to continuing growing her practice and battling cancer one day at a time. “I think that we always, as physicians, feel like we are always developing, but I feel like am exactly where I want to be,” Mook said. “I had a goal, and I’m there. I’m partner in a wonderful business, and love what I do, I want to continue to do that for as long as possible.”
–Tiana Kennell
