"They worked hard" Married to Medicine's Dr. Contessa Metcalfe talks about family history and goal setting 

Star of Bravo's hit series Married to Medicine, Dr. Contessa Metcalfe, carries a powerful legacy of determination. The three-time board-certified physician and entrepreneur spoke about her journey from Kansas City to becoming a respected medical professional in Atlanta.

"They worked hard to get us the best opportunities and just speak life into us. If you take that for granted, their sacrifices, you just piss on 'em," Metcalfe shares about her parents' influence.

Explaining further:

"My dad wanted to be a pharmacist. My mom wanted to be a nurse. And so, I'm a doctor. My brother's an attorney. We are able to live that manifestation of what they couldn't because it just wasn't the same time, and they didn't have the same opportunities."

Known for her straight-talking approach on the reality show that follows the lives of women in Atlanta's medical community, Contessa Metcalfe's story reveals how family history shapes ambition.

Dr. Contessa Metcalfe’s journey to success

Metcalfe's drive stems from her early life experiences. Her mother had her sister at 15, and her father struggled with substance use disorder.

These challenges didn't stop her parents from dreaming big for their children. Now working toward her fourth board certification, Metcalfe sees her achievements as fulfilling her parents' unrealized dreams.

After graduating from Xavier University and St. Louis University School of Medicine, Contessa Metcalfe joined the Navy as a flight surgeon. This experience took her around the world before she settled in Atlanta, where she now owns Chastain Integrative Medicine in Buckhead.

Metcalfe takes a methodical approach to her health and wellness.

"I'm a big tracker and a journaler, setting goals and accountability," she explains.

Elaborating:

"I tell them about these journals that I maintain because I call it 'the Bible of me.' If my cholesterol is a little bit elevated, I have to then eat eight to 14 servings of fruits and vegetables."

Dr. Contessa Metfcalfe’s family life and Married to Medicine

With three children watching her every move, Contessa Metcalfe navigates the challenges of being on reality television carefully. Her oldest daughter, now 16, sometimes needs guidance about dealing with public attention.

"I've had to block my daughter before because she is a teenager. When someone says something negative about mommy or our marriage, she will want to say something and respond," Metcalfe reveals.

Her relationship with Dr. Scott has evolved through their time on television. The couple learned to keep their relationship playful despite life's demands.

"When you saw us struggling, we stopped having fun in our relationship. It just became about business: who's picking the kids up? What time do you get off?" she reflects.

They've since rediscovered their lighter side, even supporting each other's dreams – including her husband's musical aspirations.

At 48, Metcalfe enters something she calls "naked girl season." Coming from a conservative Apostolic background where her mother didn't even wear pants, she now embraces her body with confidence.

"Now I'm kind of in this place of loving my sexiness in my body and trying new fashion trends, wearing my belly out even though I'm 48," she shares with a laugh.

For those seeking strong partnerships, Contessa Metcalfe emphasizes authenticity.

"Number one, transparency is freedom," she states firmly.

She explains:

"The messier your life is, the messier your story, the more people can identify with it."

She believes that vulnerability creates genuine connections, whether in personal relationships or with patients.

Dr. Contessa Metcalfe continues to set and achieve new goals and remains grounded in her family's legacy while creating her own. With three board certifications and counting, she proves that dreams become reality with the help of determination and family support.

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All 11 seasons of Married to Medicine are available to stream on Peacock.