Fil-Am doctor honored with her own Barbie doll for being one of pandemic heroes

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13) — Filipino American Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz is among six frontline workers from around the world that toy company Mattel, Inc. honored with a Barbie doll created in their image for being heroes of the pandemic.

"It was just so incredible. I feel so honored. It is an opportunity of a lifetime. I didn't think it was even possible, that this would even happen to me ever," the Las Vegas-based physician said about the recognition in an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day on Friday.

"I hope to represent Filipinas, minorities in America, moms in healthcare, as well as all frontline workers working so hard during this pandemic," she added.

Mattel earlier said Cruz joined forces with other Asian-American doctors to fight racial bias and discrimination amid the health crisis.

The Fil-Am expressed hope medical workers who experience bias in the workplace would "speak up."

"You have a voice, and your voice is so powerful," she told fellow healthcare workers.

Apart from Cruz, other women honored with a one-of-a-kind doll were:

-Amy O’Sullivan, an emergency room nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient in Brooklyn, United States

-Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Canada who advocated against systemic racism in healthcare

-Sarah Gilbert, a professor who led the development of the University of Oxford vaccine in the United Kingdom

-Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, a biomedical researcher who led genome sequencing efforts for coronavirus variant detection in Brazil

-Dr. Kirby White, a general practitioner who led the initiative of developing reusable personal protective equipment for frontline personnel in Victoria, Australia