As a black female author and filmmaker who has quadriplegia, Crystal Emery knows a thing or two about succeeding despite adversity.

So when Emery interviewed a group of black female physicians in 2011 as part of a Yale School of Medicine project, she knew she had to tell the world about how they had overcome sexism and racism to do what they loved.

"I was amazed at these wonderful women and their story," said Emery, 55, who lives in New Haven, Conn. "Because it's really the story of the triumph of the human spirit."

Her documentary about these doctors, "Black Women in Medicine," which airs on WTTW World and Create stations 8 p.m. Wednesday and will be shown again on WYCC-Ch. 20 at 8 p.m. Sunday, tells their struggles and triumphs in a series of heartwarming interviews.

The film begins with black women medical students on "Match Day," excitedly finding out where they will be doing their residencies. There are also historical clips on Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who in 1864 became the first black woman to graduate from medical school, plus the civil rights movement and perspectives on the small number of these doctors (roughly 2 percent) and the need for more.

Despite their different backgrounds, these women share determination, passion and the smarts to deal with overt and subtle discrimination, as well as the other stresses that are part of becoming a doctor. They also had supportive parents who stressed education and encouraged them to work hard, be good to others and believe in themselves.

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"I identify with the women in the film because I am a woman, and because I am a black woman, and because I am on the front line fighting for equality for all people," Emery said in an interview. "What I love most about the women in the film is that they have not allowed the -ism vortex to hinder or destroy them, whether it's racism, sexism or, in my case, disability.

"What I also love about them is their strong faith in God," she said.

The cast includes such notables as Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first black U.S. surgeon general, who is retired but still active in public health; Dr. Jennifer Ellis, one of six black female cardiothoracic surgeons in the U.S.; and Dr. Claudia Thomas, the first black female orthopedic surgeon.

"My focus was to get through medical school, and I was not going to let anything anyone said or did get in my way," Elders says in the film. "I was just so tough, nothing stuck to me and it just rolled off."

But even today, Elders remembers a hurtful episode from decades ago when she was an intern and tried to place an IV line in a 7-year-old white boy. This police chief's son called her the "N" word.

"My impulse was obviously to say something back but I thought, this is a 7-year-old boy and I am his doctor," Elders recalled in an interview. "I had to learn a lot of this. My first responsibility is to do the best job I can as a physician and take the best care of these patients as I possibly can and not let my feelings and reactions get in the way."

Emery, who wrote, directed and produced the film, is also the author of "Against All Odds: Celebrating Black Women in Medicine." In 2016, Emery and Elders teamed up to start a "Changing the Face of Medicine Initiative," which includes showcasing the film and book to try to increase the number of black doctors in the U.S.

Though Emery has a neuromuscular disease and diabetes, her health challenges didn't keep her from being involved in all aspects of the filmmaking, including all interviews with the cast.

"The best filmmakers are those who know how to put together a great team," Emery said. That team included cinematographer Bobby Shepard (director of photography for the movie "Freedom Riders").

"When you have an expert eye like that, you get a depth, you get a color, you get the best of the business. So I can tell a story, but he made telling a story look great," Emery said.

Emery also said she wanted to make the film a healing one, from the spunky music that marks its beginning scenes to the black high schoolers who speak hopefully about their future careers. It ends with an inspiring "Amen," sung by JoAnna Rhinehart.

The doctors in the film often recount their struggles with humor.

"I was at a conference a couple of days ago and it was just assumed that I was not the surgeon," said Ellis, the cardiothoracic surgeon. "They finally said, 'Who's going to be doing the operation?' I said, 'Uh, that would be me honest to goodness.'"

But Thomas, the orthopedic surgeon, said racism continues to be "the biggest stumbling block."

"Those who didn't go through the '60s, civil rights era, don't have perspective on what we had to go through. Some people even believe and buy into that 'post-racial' statement," Thomas said. "There's nothing post-racial in this country. Race matters. It's the first thing they see when people look at you."

The film points out that only about 4 percent of physicians are black (up from 2 percent in 1969), though 13.3 percent of Americans are black. One way to boost those numbers could be mentoring black youths, these doctors note.

The film also emphasizes the importance of black doctors for black patients, explaining that studies have shown patients tend to relate better to doctors who look like them and that can help improve their health outcomes.

Dr. Monica Peek, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, has experienced her share of racism as a black female doctor, though her parents "gave me the gift of resilience and just sort of believing I was good enough." She called the film "compelling," highlighting the trailblazers who have made the struggle easier and their counterparts today.

"We have come a long way in a very short period of time," Peek said. "I certainly acknowledge that my path has been exponentially easier because of the challenges and sacrifices made by black women physicians before me."

Peek said she thinks her own black female patients are more willing to follow her advice because she, too, is black.

"I think their ability to feel like they have an advocate who is on their side and helping them navigate the health care system has improved their ability to engage in their health management."

That bond has been an inspiration to both Peek and her patients.

"When I walk in the door, people have hugged me and said, 'I'm so proud of you baby,'" Peek said.

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'Black Women in Medicine' relays struggles, triumphs of doctors - Chicago Tribune