Sally Alexandre, APP-PCP, a Physician Assistant at Dartmouth Internal Medicine, has been with Southcoast Health for over 15 years. Sally didn’t start out in Primary Care, and began her career working in Emergency Services in Rhode Island. After a few years, she wanted a position where she could use her Portuguese-speaking ability more often. So, in 2007, she accepted a position with the Hospitalist Service at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford.

After nearly 10 years as a Hospitalist, Sally made the transition to primary care because she needed a more flexible schedule to accommodate her family’s needs.

“I originally thought I was sacrificing my career for my family. Little did I know at the time that I would fall in love with Primary Care,” says Sally.

“I am so happy I changed career direction. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to educate patients on the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise, as well as explain how medication works and why regular mammograms and screening colonoscopies are important. Primary care is the backbone of medicine, and I am so proud to be a part of that team.”

Significance of the National Day of Portugal (June 10)

To Sally, the National Day of Portugal is a day to honor her family’s heritage and respect the contribution of the Portuguese culture. It’s also a time for her to enjoy Portuguese cuisine, especially sweets.

“I overindulge in all things Portuguese,” she says. “I enjoy pasteis de nata (a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry), cavacas — ‘my mother’s specialty’ (a Portuguese popover pastry with icing), biscoitos, massa  (sweat bread) and arroz doce (rice pudding).”

Sally’s Portuguese heritage was very influential in the formation of her personal values, especially the importance she places on family. “As a child of Portuguese parents, I was taught to respect others, work hard, demonstrate integrity in everything I do, and to cherish my family,” she says.

Sally would love to widen her sons’ experience of their heritage by bringing them to visit Portugal again. “My parents are from the island of Santa Maria in the Azores,” she says. “I want to take my boys to see the Azores so they can experience their heritage more directly.” Sally plans to travel to the Azores with her husband and parents in the near future.

To learn more about Southcoast’s Day of Portugal Celebration please visit Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Southcoast Health | Southcoast Health.