Black Men in Medicine: Josh's Story

[@TheEpiphany101]

Super encouraging! I also was a language major in undergrad as well and will be starting a one-year post bacc this summer. Go Black man, go Black man, go!

[@Stoneface_]

TheEpiphany101 Good luck

[@steveanderson1869]

I appreciate your response I'm helping me understand the situation in the black community. Ironically , as we speak I have 2 black medical students doing rotations in my medical office. I'm happy to say they are doing an amazing job. I'm a physician. I've dedicated my life's work to helping others. When I train medical students , I don't see color. Hopefully, these videos will bring about change in the mindset of potential black prospects with an interest in a medical career. I absolutely believe the issues of the past have no place in that conversation. Leave it in the past where it belongs. What is important is the now and future.

[@gdaymates431]

The past shapes the future. You cannot ignore generations of trauma. If you think otherwise, you are not the right person to help anyone. I suggest you sign up for a history class and a class in cultural sensitivity. STAT!

[@thefleetfooted]

Man matched ortho!! My g.

[@nickterrance5849]

black people dont have much suppport in college, people think they are not smart enough,they need the true picture. you guys need to make videos on how they can handle those situation. i feel really bad for young blacks struggling with these kinds of issue. please represent all blacks with your videos.

[@zacishot65]

This man fine as hell

[@tammybrown721]

zacishot65 omg yessss!! I agree chocolate skin complexion on fleek!!😇😇

[@chareselake6008]

Hi I was very impressed with your interview with Josh. As a parent, I'm very excited and proud to have a son who recently graduated from high school and will be starting college in a week. He is also planning to become a doctor and will be majoring in biology. Interestingly Josh stated that black males are not highly represented in medicine at UIC. My question/challenge for Josh is would he be interested in starting a mentoring program/network for black males in Chicago. If there's a way to get in touch to discuss further, please inform as I'd be interested in helping as well as getting my son involved. Thanks for your time and consideration.

[@BlackKidsWhiteCoats]

Thank you for your comment! Black males are not highly represented in medicine in general, unfortunately. Hopefully, stories like Joshua's will help to inspire young black men to pursue medicine. There will be more videos to come about black males in medicine, so be sure to subscribe! Joshua left his email; [e-mail] for anyone who had questions. There are also many pipeline programs that exist in universities, so efforts are being made (but probably not enough yet). I would suggest searching for pipeline programs at the university he is attending. For UIC, you can reach out to the Urban Health Program for more info about UIC specifically! He can also become a member of the Student National Medical Association which is specifically for minorities in medicine! They have conferences and events where he can network and meet with minority doctors to be mentors. Lillian

[@Dre9916]

@@BlackKidsWhiteCoats hi i tried emailing and it bounced back saying this email address is not valid

[@steveanderson1869]

Thanks for your explanation hb. I enjoyed reading your comments. Definitely gave it something to think about. You are absolutely right...I'm not black and understanding that its like having the hurdles/ struggles many blacks face is unfortunate. Having said that, allow me the opportunity to educate/ inform you. Only 40percent of blacks that take the MCAT even apply to medical school. Numerous studies have suggested the number one reason is they feel defeated before they even start. Why? When they were asked they have been told since childhood they could expect to deal with racism, oppression, and have little to no chance of being accepted into a predominantly white profession. I do agree many of the issues faced by potential candidates starts at home. I think videos showing black medical students is good reinforcement. The black community needs these role models. Another excellent example of overcoming racism and oppression are the Jewish community. You mentioned slavery, Jim crow, unions and its deplorable. In the 1940s 25million Jewish men,women and children were murdered during the Holocaust. That my friend is oppression. Take some of and look at how they responded and where they are now. Over 2,000 years of racism and oppression and they are some of the most successful people on earth. What happens in life people often can't control.....how people respond to adversity we DO control. I don't have all the answers for sure. I don't have to experience something to be able understand it. Appreciate your advice.

[@hb29886]

People often bring up the Jewish community and their struggle when referencing the African American history. I would never compare the two but things so horrific on the surface can seem comparable enough to ignore key differences if you look at things at a glance. But Mr. Anderson, you help select future physicians, you look at more than just the surface I'm sure. I wouldn't dare attempt to tell a person of Jewish descent how to feel over said struggle. "Hey they made it too. Get your stuff together and you do it too." Not my place. Nothing but respect for the hustle and diligence shown by so many in their community to overcome so troubling a past. Personal fave read is an empire of their own although I cannot say that I have studied the details of their history as much as I have my own. Please forgive my ignorance. With that said, you do know that racism existed during times when some American generational wealth was able to be created right? You realize that loans afforded to jews and other immigrants were not afforded to the common AA male because of said racism and as consequence of missing the boat on previous reprieves. I wouldn't say that any man can do what some are destined to do but a foothold was afforded during a time with ripe potential as clearly shown. Now all that said, I by no means am going to pretend that racism is the sole reason for the current condition of my culture and race. That's ludicrous. Racism is not an excuse. It IS a factor, past AND present. I do appreciate that you can so adamantly state that it is not in your sight or on your watch. That is evidence that progress has been made. It's appreciated when someone of another race offers an ear to understanding and reason instead of continuing the tradition of racism. But brother, no different from the cleanliness of one's own home vs another, one can't speak with such certainty of another man's house (squeaky clean, kinda clean, prob wouldn't eat there, unsanitary, filth, etc). If someone is experiencing it, then there's still work to be done. There is constant evidence of racism on TV, young and old. No sector is without blemish even with the alarmists of the world working overtime. There are still a multitude of other potential reasons available and we can go back and forth all day about how much things of the past affect now, but I do hope that we can agree that it does have an affect. No matter how big the stone or how far you throw it, there's still a ripple in the pond over time. The short side of the story is that said effects do need to be overcome to further my people so that we can all progress as the human race. This video is the posters attempt to do his/her part in bridging the gap. This is them doing something with the control that they have. It's not them say oh no racism exists, run now. Seems to be the opposite. It's more a "hey, we made it to the other side. Stuff happened but it's not so bad. More importantly it's doable and I'm just like you. You can too." Me taking the time to try to discuss this with you is a small part. You listening and hearing us out is another small part. When we do said things to highlight our triumphs or inspire others, it's (usually) not us just saying RACISM RACISM RACISM to cop out sympathy, but if you did get a scar from an activity, is it not your responsibility to enlighten the coming generation on how to avoid said scars or at least look out for the potential of harm to protect themselves while still saying its possible? If we all continue to do our part, be that inspiring, educating, mentoring, etc. then we come closer to said goal. I wrote this with love. Peace unto you, brother. Thank you for at least being willing to try to understand. Healing begins with open dialogue.

[@antoineprayer5438]

Great video

[@MyPerennial]

Good advice at 10:30 Thank you!

[@nickterrance5849]

he doesnt represent the majority of blacks who go to a predominantly white college. i believe that your people need to know what is ahead of them so it would be more helpful if you make videos for the majority of students(students in white college), about their struggles with professors descriminating and stuff. I have seen a couple of black guys struggle with professors giving them grades that are low for their performance.

[@bullettomy7thheart]

Atta boy!!!!

[@steveanderson1869]

Black males in

[@steveanderson1869]

Ahhh...I've upset chica. Thanks for the compliment. Being called ignorant by you has made my day. Unknowingly, you made my case with your typical black response. Perfect explanation of why there's a " lack of black males in medicine " .