“I am from the fifth largest county by land area in South Carolina, but it is relatively rural and significantly underserved in terms of specialty healthcare providers,” says Dr. Breland. “Learning about health disparities and rheumatic conditions allowed me to see and have a better understanding of the things I saw growing up but didn’t [understand]. I knew people with lupus, but I didn’t know what lupus was.”
She often finds herself serving as a resource for her community. “I don’t always have the answers,” she says, “but I can help people get the resources they need.”
Although her commute may be long, it allows her to remain near to her parents. And she takes advantage of the drive time to listen to podcasts, music and her daily devotional. Family, God and faith are important parts of her life.
Dr. Breland is an avid power walker. And she says her favorite hobby is eating, especially her mother’s cooking. “My mom is an excellent cook. I was born and raised in the South, but there are not many Southern dishes I eat outside of my mother’s cooking.”
Opportunity Knocks
Dr. Breland
Dr. Breland can’t help but feel grateful for the life she has led thus far, but she also endeavors to give back, citing a quote from Scripture: “To whom much is given, much is required.”
“I have lived a blessed life, and I have had a lot of people see things in me and willingly invest in and support me,” Dr. Breland says. “I take that very seriously, and I want to be able to do that for others, … but I know there is still a lot of work to be done.”
