Purpose

The percentage of physicians in the U.S. who identify as Black or African-American is 5%. There has been only minimal change in this percentage in several decades, certainly not enough that the number of Black physicians matches that of the general population, where Black or African-American people account for roughly 13.2% of the population. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Diversity in Medicine: Facts and Figures 2019 reports that only 7.1% of students matriculating into US medical schools in that year were Black. Upon their completion of training and entry into the workforce, this will still result in a paucity of Black physicians in this country. 

We know from a simple review of the literature, that Black physicians disproportionately provide care to Black people and that Black patients report increased satisfaction when they are cared for by Black physicians. We also know that Black people in this country face higher rates of infant mortality and chronic diseases (like hypertension and diabetes) and are less likely to have appropriate preventive screening.

I believe that in order to address the healthcare disparities that Black people face in the U.S., we must have more Black physicians. In order to have more Black physicians, we must get more students into (and through) medical school. In order to get accepted into medical school, you must have a complete and competitive application. In order to get that competitive application, you must know what you need to be doing in your pre-med years! And that’s the true purpose of Melanin Mentor, MD–to provide insight into the process and to effect change.

Making up a mere 7.1% of incoming medical students is not enough, it’s not even close. A career as a physician is not for everyone. But if you truly want to be a physician, and you’ve “got the brains” to excel in the coursework, and you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can do it.

Let’s go!