Physician Advocacy Groups to Host Forum on Documentary Examining the Decline in Black Men Entering Medical School

April 6, 2021

Minnesota physicians and physicians-in-training; primary, secondary, and post-secondary education leadership; community organizations; and others involved in the potential pipeline of matriculating Black men in medicine, will gather online Monday, April 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss the documentary, “Black Men in White Coats,” which examines the systemic barriers preventing Black men from becoming medical doctors and the related health disparities in minority communities.

Panelists for the event include:

• Filmmaker Dale Okorodudu, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician, and an assistant professor of Internal Medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• William A. McDade, MD, PhD, chief of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• Cedric M. Bright, MD, FACP, associate dean for admissions and professor of medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Dionne Hart, MD, a Rochester-based psychiatrist and president of the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians, and Derrick Lewis, a medical student at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, will act as moderators.

The forum is a partnership of the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians, MMA Foundation, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapters at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities Medical Society and Zumbro Valley Medical Society.

The 80-minute documentary aims to inform individuals who are involved in accepting, educating, training, and supervising medical students, residents, fellows and health staff about the barriers specific to increasing the number of Black men in medicine.  

In 2020, the MMA renewed its commitment to address health disparities affecting the health of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander communities living in Minnesota. The MMA pledged to address the social determinants of health that have not only negatively influenced the health of these communities, but also contributed to the ongoing underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in medicine.

About the Minnesota Medical Association
The Minnesota Medical Association is a non-profit professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. With more than 11,000 members, the MMA is dedicated to being the leading voice of medicine to make Minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice. More information at www.mnmed.org.   

About the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians
The Minnesota Chapter of the National Medical Association (a.k.a. The Minnesota Association of Black Physicians/The Minnesota Association of African-American Physicians) provides education, support, camaraderie and advocacy for Minnesota’s physicians with a special emphasis on supporting Physicians of Color, especially Black/African-American physicians, so they may provide the highest quality, most effective service and care to all in need, reduce health care inequities, and increase access to health care to all with special emphasis on access for Patients of Color. More information at MAAAP.org.

About the MMA Foundation
The MMA Foundation is actively engaged in building collaborative programs with community-based organizations, other foundations, healthcare systems and other public and private entities that share our vision to advance optimal health and health equity for each individual and all communities. More information at www.mnmed.org/MMA-Foundation.

About the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapters at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and the University of Minnesota Medical School
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians. More information at www.snma.org.

About the Twin Cities Medical Society
The Twin Cities Medical Society’s mission is to connect, represent, and engage physicians in improving the practice of medicine, policy development and public health initiatives. Its vision is to provide leadership for the health of our communities. More information at www.metrodoctors.com.

About the Zumbro Valley Medical Society
The Zumbro Valley Medical Society (ZVMS) is a nonprofit professional membership organization serving 3,000 physicians and physicians-in-training and promoting the health of communities in southeast Minnesota. More information at www.zvms.org.