Diane Thomas, MD

Alive, Free, & Paying It Forward 

Dr. Diane Thomas’ story was not uncommon for the Hunter’s Point neighborhood where she was born. With
a father on drugs and a single mother parenting four children, the neighborhood pressure of gang violence, deaths of friends, and the threat of teen pregnancy were all too real. Then, just as she entered high school a friend introduced her to Alive & Free. 

“I grew up in Hunter’s Point, surrounded by drugs and violence. My mother always stressed the importance of education and I knew that I wanted more for myself. So 

I was book smart but I was also street smart. With that being said, I initially began attending Omega (A&F) just to see what all the “hype” was about. At rst I was
not thrilled but after about a month of attending I became more intrigued. The classes made me think on a deeper level about life, friends, myself and my future. The nightly meetings were my favorite.
I do not like public speaking, but at the meetings I could be myself and not worry about being judged. Many times other students shared their own experiences and 

I could de nitely relate. It was encouraging to know that others were experiencing similar issues. Dr. Marshall was like a second father gure for me. I like people to tell me things straight up and not sugar coat it; and Dr. Marshall did just that. Omega was and always has been an extended family for me.” 

Dr. Thomas says she knew from her rst visit that Alive & Free was different- a safe place, an inspirational place. Dr. Thomas encouraged other friends to attend as well and steered clear of the stereotypical neighborhood in uences like drugs and violence. Empowered with the message that no matter your background, you can pursue your dreams, Dr. Thomas went on to attend medical school at Meharry Medical College, complete a surgical residency, and return to the Bay Area to open Merced Women’s Center
for Advanced Pelvic Surgery. Her commitment to providing healthcare to underserved communities can be linked to her pay it forward attitude that she acquired from Alive & Free. 

Throughout her time with Alive & Free, Dr. Marshall’s refrain, “the more you know, the more you owe” would not only stick with her but become the catalyst for her own efforts to engage and pass on lessons to others from a similar background through residency mentorships, student job shadowing programs, and involvement with other rst generation college students. 

She encounters many people who are surprised by her background, given her successful career and personal life, but she stresses the importance of using her position as an African American woman, surgeon, and business owner to show the younger generation what is possible. Since she has returned to the Merced, California area she continues to support her local community and Alive & Free.