PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A student organization at Jefferson University aims to increase the number of Black doctors.
Dressing for success, these second-year medical students at Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College are members of Black Men in White Coats.
“With the intention of trying to increase the number of Black men going into the field of medicine,” medical student Kevin Carolina said. “It’s a very challenging journey, and it’s a journey that does require a lot of assistance.”
Inspired by his own experience, Carolina is a founding member of the group.
“I see the impact the lack of diversity has on health outcomes within people that look like me,” he said.
Black people have high rates of disease, health complications and death, according to the CDC . Part of that is blamed on a historic lack of trust in White doctors and not being able to find medical professionals of the same race.