January 05, 2023

LAWT News Service

 

On December 21, 2022, the Coalition of Black Men Physicians hosted their Big Picture Night Scholarship Fundraiser at Crypto.com, located at 1111 S. Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles.

The event kicked off their $50,000 national scholarship campaign to benefit Black male medical students and highlight the urgency in addressing the scarcity of Black male physicians present within our nation’s healthcare workforce.

Outside of fundraising, the program provided strategies for newly minted physicians to realize financial independence through educational sessions offered by event sponsors.

Information was shared by L.A. Care Health Plan regarding their Physician Loan Repayment Program and

Eszylfie Taylor of Taylor Insurance and Financial Services served as a resource for those in residency and beyond.

With over 40 years of attempts to mitigate health disparities in Black communities, the issue of training culturally competent black male physicians capable of transforming health in medically underserved communities has worsened. Many organizations have delved into identifying the underlying causes underpinning the phenomenon of under-representation of black men in medicine and it has been recognized that much intervention is needed.

The Coalition of Black Men Physicians is dedicated to create a platform to raise funds for Black male medical students and garner the support of those who have a like-minded mission. Today, less than 4% of practicing physicians are Black men, a statistic that has remained stagnant since the 1970’s despite steady increases in the numbers of Black men and women living in the United States.

Attendees of the Big Picture Night Scholarship Fundraiser consisted of Black men in the medical pipeline, sponsors, government officials, and community stakeholders. The Coalition of Black Men Physicians is adamant about exposing the health inequities that exist in medicine and is focused on increasing the numbers of black men entering the medical education pipeline.

The coalition provides a platform for comradery amongst Black males who are in pursuit of higher education by increasing recruitment into and retention in medicine. The Big Picture Night Fundraiser was held in the organization’s sponsored suite and ended with networking amongst guests as well as viewing of the Los Angeles Clippers win against the Charlotte Hornets.

Sponsors included L.A. CARE Health Plan, The Weight Room Therapy, Anthem Blue Shield, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Taylor Insurance and Financial Services.

The Coalition of Black Men Physicians Executive board members Lauren Senkbeil, Dr. Rasheed Ivey, Dr. Richard Morgan, Dr. Nathan Ford, A.J. Forrest, and Robert Tatum were catalyzed to co-found this organization by advocating for change when it comes to opportunities for Black male pre-medical students through attending physicians. As they move forward to address these statistics highlighting the lack of Black men in medicine, they are sensitive to what students in the pipeline endure as they know what is required to get into medical school and be successful in this field.

The organization has an aim to create a cultural movement where pathways are created for Black men who aspire to enter medicine through providing fellowship, mentorship, programs that prepare students with academic resources, and financial support in scholarship funds. According to a spokesperson, “The organization has taken this national crisis personally, and aims to provide measurable solutions in the next five years to dismantle this broken system and change the face of medicine to better reflect and serve our diverse nation.”

Category: Community