Black Doctors Save Black Lives

A trip to the doctor’s office is not always the most comforting experience. We have to come in and share details about ourselves, hoping and expecting this person in a white coat to help us. But imagine how much better would it be if you knew the doctor was someone just like you?

We need more Black doctors, and – slowly – that may be changing. An article from NPR says the number of first-year med students went up by 21% in the last year.  Changes to admission procedures and waived application fees are part of the reasons why more Black students are getting admitted to medical school.

In this podcast episode, host Natasha Phelps applauds the increasing number of physicians, touches on some of the barriers students face when trying to become one, and why Black physicians are so needed.

Oftentimes, Black patients are met with medical racism when seeking care. Their concerns are dismissed, their pain isn’t taken seriously and negative comments are annotated in their medical charts. Black doctors, especially those serving patients in similar communities they have lived in, help to relieve these medical care concerns for Black patients.

Black doctors, we thank you!

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REFERENCES:

• A Brief But Spectacular take on protecting 'Black genius'
  
• Ray Charles - Reaching For The Dream - PSA for UNCF
  
  The number of first-year Black medical students jumps 21% in the past year,
  
• Physicians Use More Negative Words in Black Patient Records. Here's Why That's Harmful
  
• Black Students Are Enrolling At Record Pace To Medical Schools
  
• Data about race and physicians
  
• 'Why are they not getting better?': How one Black doctor is working to fight racial disparity in healthcare

CREDITS:

Host: Natasha Phelps

Producer: Chelsey Sellars

Logo Designer: Ashlee Woods