May 6th 2024.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, studies show that Black individuals tend to have longer life expectancies in counties with a higher proportion of Black doctors. In light of this research, the Black Men in White Coats organization recently hosted a youth summit for young people in the Milwaukee area on May 4th.
According to Fox 6 Milwaukee, the organization's main goal is to increase the number of Black men in the medical field through exposure, inspiration, and mentorship. The summit took place at Milwaukee's Golda Meir School Upper Campus and featured Mark Ehioghae, a student from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ehioghae explained that the event was designed to give young Black children a glimpse into their potential future as doctors.
"We want these kids to see themselves in these white coats one day," Ehioghae said. "They are using their hands and being active, getting a feel for what it's like to be a surgeon." He also encouraged the youth to never give up on their dreams, sharing his own personal journey as an example. "No dream is too big. I am a living testimony of that, and you will be too. Find the right mentor and keep pushing forward. I promise you, you will get to where I am today."
One of the organizers of the summit, Dr. Ugwuje Maduekwe, spoke to Fox 6 about the event's connection to the mission of Black Men in White Coats. "Today, our focus is on Black men in medicine because they are the most underrepresented group in this field. We know that Black men in the United States have the worst health outcomes, and research shows that their health improves when they are treated by physicians who look like them."
In 2023, Time Magazine reported on the shortage of Black doctors in America, tracing it back to discriminatory policies put in place in the early 19th and 20th centuries. These policies made it difficult for Black doctors to obtain medical licenses and discouraged them from practicing medicine in the United States. The American Medical Association, founded by white doctors, actively kept Black doctors from joining their ranks out of fear that it would reduce their dominance in the field.
Similar to how the G.I. Bill was rolled out after the World Wars, the AMA effectively made it impossible for Black doctors to exist, without explicitly banning them from joining the organization. This resulted in a segregated system where Black patients were treated by Black doctors, while white patients were treated by white doctors. The release of the Flexner Report in 1910 further exacerbated this issue by closing all but two Black medical schools at the time. This deeply ingrained history has led to present-day consequences, with only about 6% of doctors in America being Black, which experts warn poses a public health risk.
In 2021, New York-based obstetrician and gynecologist Nwameka Ugokwe told Haverford College that addressing systemic racism is crucial in closing health disparities. "Systemic racism plays a significant role in health disparities. I work in one of the most underserved areas in Brooklyn, where almost all of my patients are Black or Brown. Our neighborhood struggles with limited access to prenatal care and has a high rate of preterm births and teen pregnancies. If our hospital did not exist, people in this area would have a difficult time accessing healthcare."
Family medicine physician Traci Trice agreed, emphasizing the importance of having Black doctors represent Black patients in the American healthcare system. "Medical students and physicians both benefit from having diverse colleagues who can share their experiences and introduce them to new ones. Diversity also increases empathy towards each other and towards patients from different backgrounds," she explained. "We need more Black physicians because the health of the population depends on it."
It is no surprise that a recent survey found that Black individuals anticipate facing racism when visiting the doctor's office. This further highlights the urgent need for increased diversity in the medical field. The efforts of organizations like Black Men in White Coats, who are actively working towards this goal, are crucial in creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system for all.
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