Dot Richardson is a surgeon, on the softball field and off. As an orthopaedic surgeon, her scalpel helps patients recover from their muscle and bone injuries. As a member of the U.S. national team, Richardson uses her bat and glove to operate on the best female softball players in the world. Richardson's career is a perfect example of how hard work and not giving up can make a dream come true.

Growing up

Supportive family

Dorothy Gay Richardson was born September 22, 1961, in Orlando, Florida. Her father, Ken, is a retired Air Force mechanic. Richardson--who spent much of her childhood living on military bases--credits her family with encouraging her. "There's a drive within my family to see how high you can go and what you can reach," she explained in Southern Living. Richardson's mother and father had high hopes for their daughter. "The whole family always knew that...