In the world of medicine, the stories of Black physicians resonate as powerful narratives of resilience, determination, and impact. Celebrating Black History Month offers an opportunity to explore the transformative journey of black physicians like Dr. John Washington, an emergency medicine physician and a trailblazer whose experiences have not only shaped his personal triumphs but also laid a groundbreaking foundation at St. George’s University.
Dr. Washington‘s journey began as part of the first charter class at SGU’s medical school, providing him with opportunities during a time when options for black individuals in medicine were limited.
“SGU was a great fit for me. It was a completely different experience compared to other options available at the time,” said Dr. Washington, who graduated from SGU’s School of Medicine in 1981. His reflections on the unique experience at SGU highlight a pioneering spirit that inspires us to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical field.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) that in 2023-24, 10 percent of matriculants to US medical schools are Black—and an improvement from just 8.4 percent in 2016-2017, but still far short of the 13 percent of the US population who are Black. Given that just 5 percent of practicing US physicians are Black doctors, medical schools still have work to do to build a more equally representative medical profession.
The growth of these doctors needs to be done through recruiting, retaining, and graduating more Black applicants seeking to pursue medical careers. The challenges in graduating black doctors carries over to black women doctors as well.
“With the fact that I grew up never having a doctor that looked like me, I was motivated to become that person for other people,” says Dr. Kandace LaMonica, 2019 graduate of SGU and family medicine resident at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
To truly work toward a more diverse, more equitable health care system, it’s critical to reach potential physicians as early as possible.
“There should be more of a focus on exposing kids to careers in medicine,” “Hospitals and schools can create more pipeline programs.”
Fostering diverse classrooms
The importance of efforts to diversify medical school admissions is emphasized by Dr. Satesh Bidaisee, professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at SGU. A more holistic admissions process fosters diverse classrooms. This approach benefits all students by broadening perspectives and improving critical components such as active thinking, intellectual engagement, social skills, empathy, and racial understanding.
“Doctors are required to be competent not only in medicine but also in communication and caring for people with different disease burdens, sociocultural realities, expectations, values, and beliefs,” explains Dr. Bidaisee. “Doctors of today need a global competence to understand the diverse populations they serve.”
This period of reflection has reinforced SGU’s dedication to fostering a global community that transcends racial, cultural, and ethnic boundaries.
SGU takes pride in being a champion of a more diverse and representative medical profession. The commitment to enhancing the student experience is evident through the tireless efforts of team members worldwide. This commitment goes beyond academic excellence; it extends to creating an environment where students from all walks of life can thrive, share their unique perspectives, and contribute to the rich tapestry of the global medical community.
Diversity in healthcare matters
Diversity in healthcare helps ensure all backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, and perspectives are adequately represented in the medical field. It’s about providing the best possible care for all patients.
If you’re interested in a career in medicine and want to gain an edge with a global perspective, find out more about SGU’s MD Program.
