Meet Carolyn Hudson, M.D. –
Hayward Office Pediatrician

“All the world is a stage, and perhaps there is no larger stage than that of medicine.”
– Dr. Carolyn Hudson

For a young African-American girl, living in the South at a time where racism was still prevalent, medical school was a stretch for Carolyn Hudson. Born in Franklin, Tennessee to a family of four girls, Dr. Hudson was determined to be the first in her family to go college and pursue medicine. Growing up, her interests revolved around the life sciences, and as a young child she wanted to become a biologist. It was later in her youth that she became inspired about having the opportunity to help people.

Dr. Hudson was accepted to the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was there that three professors, all of who were women, inspired and refined her perspectives on medicine as well as on individuality – two things about which she is still very passionate. She explains, "It's easy to lose yourself in medical school, where the demand and pressure is so high that you forget who you are on the inside. I'm thankful I was exposed to these professors who taught me how to hold onto my individuality while still giving my all to my patients."

After medical school, she completed an assignment with the National Health Services Corps where she worked with the underserved in South Florida. For six and a half years she was exposed to patients from different cultures due to Florida's heavy immigration traffic. She worked with an array of medical illnesses, including early cases of AIDS in some of the children. After completing her stint, she moved to California and, since 1990, has worked with Bay Valley Medical Group. She practices in the Hayward pediatric department and happily cares for babies, children and teenagers. Dr. Hudson also serves on the board of directors of Bay Valley Medical Group. She is the immediate past-president of St. Rose Hospital, a position she held for six years. She has chaired numerous services and committees at St. Rose, including chief of pediatrics, chair of the quality committee and she presently chairs the performance improvement committee.

For Dr. Hudson, being an exceptional pediatrician is just as important as taking time to do the things she enjoys in her free time, which rejuvenates her mentality and spirit. Many people don't know that she has a passion for the classic arts – music, theater, ballet and poetry. Outside of practicing medicine, she loves spending her evenings and weekends enchanted in attending the "Four Seasons Concerts" which organizes musical groups of talented classical musicians who are African-American. In addition, she has taken acting classes and hopes in the future to be able to perform in the local theater.

If there is one thing you can draw from Dr. Hudson, it is her grace and appreciation for living in the moment. "Somewhere along my journey in life, I reached a point where I understood that life is what I make it. Too many people chase happiness, looking elsewhere to find it, and often times they don't realize that it's sitting right in front of them. I love where I am today, the people I know and the things that I do."

Dr. Carolyn Hudson practices pediatrics in Bay Valley Medical Group's Hayward office. To schedule an appointment, please call: 510-785-5000.