Visible Activism

WCBD in the Community

Pre-Med Outreach Day at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

In November 2016, we sent our Chief Communications Officer, Jenay Powell, to Rowan University's School of Osteopathic Medicine for Diversity Week. This annual event is hosted by the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action Council (IDEA), and we were excited to be there for Pre-Med Outreach Day culminating their week of events. High school students from all across New Jersey spent the day at Rowan learning about osteopathic medicine, visiting the gross anatomy lab and even participating in their very first mini-white coat ceremony! During lunch, Jenay spoke with the students about the road to medicine, and answered questions from the audience on everything from navigating college applications to life as a medical student.

Pre-Health Professions Symposium at Davidson College

Davidson College may be home to the Dubs' most famous 3-point shooter, but it's also home to some energized pre-meds with futures just as bright. We had the pleasure of talking with about 45 students at Davidson. Their questions ranged from navigating college as a student-athlete, to balancing extra-curricular activities with science courses and MCAT prep, as well as the best and most challenging parts of medical school. Overall, we were energized by their passion and interest in pursuing careers in healthcare. This is the heart and soul of why we do what we do: uplifting the next generation!

Thank you Denise Powell and the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Student National Medical Association (SNMA) for inviting us to the Roots of Healthcare SNMA Region III Conference! It was an honor to be in attendance at the Roots of Healthcare SNMA Region III Conference. Our final event of 2016 allowed us to meet and get to know undergraduates and medical students from Texas, Mississippi, Colorado, Louisiana and more. We even donated the first of many Future Physician Award scholarships to graduating senior (and, now- an accepted future medical student!), Stephanie Nwagwu. Check out her bio on the WCBD Scholarships page.

Our hope is that in 2017, the WCBD movement continues to expand coast-to-coast. You- yes, YOU! reading this right now- can be part of the growing community of WCBDers across the nation. Contact us about hosting an event at your school. Apply for scholarships. You may even be able to join Team WCBD! It's more than a t-shirt. It's a mission. Make it your own. Find out how by contacting us...now!

WCBD Scholarship Awarded at Student National Medical Association's Region III Conference

"Why Black Docs?" at Georgetown University

"In February 2016, we hosted what several students and faculty described as "the best event ever at Georgetown!" In the form of a professional guest panel, and a video testimonial (given by students and faculty at the School of Medicine), "Why Black Doctors?" was a discussion designed to shed light on cultural competency, and how it shapes the educational and professional experiences of minorities in medicine. By virtue of an open dialogue between audience members and guest panelists, attendees could better understand the socio-cultural factors that affect the professional development of minorities (and non-minorities, alike), and how this impacts the quality of care in Black communities."
- Emi Nwabueze, "Why Black Docs?" Event Chair, MS3, Georgetown University School of Medicine

Panelists: Yolanda Haywood, MD, Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Student Affairs at George Washington University School of Medicine; Leslie Hinkson, PhD, Associate Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University; Nicole Jasper, MD, Emergency Department Director at the Coliseum Medical Center in Macon, Ga.; Erica McClaskey, MD, Associate Professor of Family Medicine at GUSOM; Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD, Associate Professor at GUSOM; Lawrence Prograis, MD, Senior Scientist for Special Programs and Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health; and Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Vice President of Advocacy.

Read more at: https://gumc.georgetown.edu/news/Why-Black-Doctors-Explores-the-Importance-of-Black-Physicians

Photos courtesy of GUMC Communications

The Village Summit: A Mixer with the Growing Black Medical Community in Charlotte

White Coats Black Doctors and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at Carolinas Medical Center hosted residents, attendings, and UNC medical students for an evening of conversation, food and fellowship. Physicians and students made connections, found mentors, and received advice on everything from clinical experience to contract negotiation. Most importantly, the connections made that evening will help to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment that will attract the best and brightest medical trainees and teachers of all levels, so that the Carolinas Medical Center healthcare staff resembles the rich and diverse population it serves.

Real Talk with Dr. Damon Tweedy

White Coats Black Doctor's very first event was hosted in Chapel Hill, NC at the Sonya Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. Real Talk featured the New York Times Bestselling author, and Duke University psychiatrist, Dr. Damon Tweedy. Tweedy's memoir, "Black Man in a White Coat", has taken the nation by storm, with its honest, candid account of his medical school experience- challenges with discrimination, racism and more were tackled head on in the book and in the live interview at the Real Talk event. Guests enjoyed great food, spoken word, and honest conversation on the need for more diversity in medicine.

Read more on the event here: http://news.unchealthcare.org/som-vital-signs/2015/nov-5/real-talk-with-dr-damon-tweedy