Elizabeth A. Patterson, MD
Coloring Outside the Lines: A Trailblazer’s Journey
September 11, 2025
4 PM PDT | 5 PM MDT | 6 PM CDT | 7 PM EDT
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My memoir, “Coloring Outside the Lines: A Trailblazer’s Journey,” begins with a quote that has long served as my guiding compass.

“You have to color outside the lines once in a while if you want to make your life a masterpiece.” – Albert Einstein

For me, those “lines” were never just about artistic freedom or established norms. They were the invisible barriers of gender expectations, racial bias, and the assumptions that often surround others in white, male-dominated spaces.

But before I entered those areas or needed to prove I belonged, my family had already instilled in me the belief that I had a right to be there.

In my love-filled childhood home, my voice was not only heard but also valued, and my dreams were supported and nurtured. My parents and brother were my first advocates and teachers. They showed me that my identity was not a limitation. It was there that I learned to speak up, to stand tall, and to trust my instincts. I discovered that courage wasn’t rebellion, and I did not have to be confined by the outlines others had drawn for me.

I didn’t aim to be a trailblazer. I set out to do the work I loved, to lead with integrity, and to make a difference. But in doing so, I often found myself navigating a world where I was the only woman, the only Black voice, and the only one expected to prove I belonged—again and again.

Coloring outside the lines for me wasn’t a choice. It was a necessity. It meant challenging assumptions and refusing to conform to someone else’s image of who I should be.

This memoir reflects that journey. It’s about the moments I dared to speak up when silence was safer. The times I chose authenticity over acceptance. And the lessons I learned about resilience, identity, and the power of being myself. It’s about the lessons I carried from my childhood into boardrooms, lecture halls, and spaces where I was often the only one who looked like me. It’s about the strength in knowing who you are.

I will share:

• What motivated me to write my memoir.
• The central theme of resilience. (Social, psychological, and identity).
• What I found most helpful in crafting my memoir. (Classes, coaching, reviewers, editors)
• Why and how I used visual-arts imagery. (Color, light, and pattern)
• My publishing choice.

BIO
In April 2024, Dr. Elizabeth A. Patterson was awarded the Gold Medal by the American College of Radiology, becoming the first African American woman in its hundred-year history to receive its highest honor. This accolade crowns her journey from reading her first mammograms as the newest member of her group to becoming a pioneer in breast imaging.

Growing up in suburban Pittsburgh during the 1940s, she defied racial and gender barriers to pursue a career in medicine. After earning a BS from the University of Michigan and her MD from Howard University College of Medicine, she embraced radiology, shattered glass ceilings throughout her career, ascended to leadership roles in organized radiology, and laid the groundwork that elevates standards in breast cancer detection and care today.

After retiring from the University of Pennsylvania faculty, she moved to Mill Creek, Washington, where she spends her days with family, friends, and her beloved dogs. She enjoys the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and reflects on a remarkable career that transformed her field and inspired many others.

Website: drpattersonpens.com