Dr. Susan G. Murrmann of McDonald Murrmann Women’s Clinic: FACES of Memphis
A pioneer in women’s health, Dr. Susan G. Murrmann not only takes care of the needs of her patients but she helps empower them to be the best they can be.
Dr. Susan G. Murrmann is a pioneer in women’s health. She attends to her patients’ physical needs but she also empowers them to be the best they can be. In 1996, Susan co-founded the all-female McDonald Murrmann Women’s Clinic with the belief that no one could better understand or help deal with feminine issues better than women. Since that time, Susan has been expanding on that concept and reinventing women’s healthcare — physically, mentally and aesthetically — to include all aspects of women’s health. In 2003, she opened the McDonald Murrmann Center for Skin, Laser and Healthy Aging to encourage women to take better care of themselves, inside and out. We are pleased to introduce you to today’s FACE of Memphis, Dr. Susan G. Murrmann.
Where were you born and what was your upbringing like?
I was born in Washington, D.C. to a Polish-born mother and a first-generation German father. We moved to a small town south of Chicago when I was four that contrasted the frequent visits to Europe to see my mother’s family in then-Communist Poland. At a very young age, I learned the value of freedom and observed the courage of a country fighting for change.
What made you decide to become a doctor?
Since I was young, I knew I always wanted to help people. I was a lifeguard and a hospital volunteer, and psychology was my favorite high school class, because I’ve always been interested in the study of people and behavior. I actually studied psychology in college for two years before changing to pre-med. My gynecology profession and my psychology background absolutely go hand in hand in women’s health. I like to think of myself as a “gynechiatrist”!
What has been the most exciting part of running your own firm? What has been the most challenging?
The field of women’s health has changed a lot over the years. More women are in the profession than ever, and more options are available for patients. These exciting changes inspire me to keep thinking outside the box and drive me to offer more services, information and benefits through our practice. The challenging part is convincing insurance companies and the hospitals to recognize more women’s health treatments and reimburse accordingly.
Why did you decide to add aesthetics to your OB/GYN practice?
I realized a long time ago that what you see in the mirror affects how you feel about yourself and how you take care of yourself. I wanted to empower my patients to take better care of their health and live life to the fullest!
Describe your typical day.
There are no typical days in my profession!
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Just as with fashion and design, there are trends in the medical world. What are your predictions for the women’s health industry in the next 10 to 15 years?
In the OB/GYN profession, there are so many advances in obstetrics, surgical procedures and medicine that I predict the two specialties will split into two professions: Obstetrics and Gynecology. It is becoming more difficult and stressful to be your very best at both. Also, the women’s health industry is rapidly advancing with women living longer. We want to enjoy our relationships while enjoying a better quality of life in our later decades.
You have so much going on! How do you balance and make everything work?
I wish I could say I get up every day and do yoga and meditate, but I don’t! The best advice I ever got was to write down what you want to accomplish in a day, a week, six months, etc. And you need to include exercise in those plans! The act of writing a plan makes you more accountable, and you will stick with it!
What do you do when not in your doctor’s lab coat?
I love to take my coat off, put my gardening shoes on and tend to my vegetable garden in my backyard. That is my peace and meditation! I have turned into my mother and father — growing and preserving my bounty.
What is the first place you take out-of-towners when they visit you?
First to my house for a home-cooked meal and then to Graceland and Memphis music venues!
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Finish this sentence: If I had a superpower, it would be …
… that I would never need sleep!
If you could go back 10 years, what advice would you give yourself?
Start writing those books you always wanted to do! And spend more time with my father who recently passed away.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Learning to be strong and not being afraid to speak my mind!
What are three things you can’t live without — with the exception of faith, family and friends?
Freedom, the arts and travel
What is your best piece of advice?
Always have goals in life, and don’t be afraid to aim high!
Thank you, Dr. Murrmann! To learn more about Dr. Susan G. Murrmann’s work with the McDonald Murrmann Women’s Clinic, visit mmwc.md/womens-clinic, and to learn more about the McDonald Murrmann Center for Skin, Laser & Healthy Aging, visit mmskinandlaser.com and their Facebook page.
Thanks to Micki Martin for the fabulous photos of Dr. Murrmann!
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