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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A student organization at Jefferson University aims to increase the number of Black doctors.<\/p>\n
Dressing for success, these second-year medical students at Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College are members of Black Men in White Coats.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Inspired by his own experience, Carolina is a founding member of the group.<\/p>\n
“I see the impact the lack of diversity has on health outcomes within people that look like me,” he said.<\/p>\n
Black people have high rates of disease, health complications and death, according to the\u00a0CDC. 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.<\/p>\n
The Association of American Medical Colleges said diversity in medicine is improving but still only 5% of doctors are Black.<\/p>\n “Although our numbers are rare within medicine, we’re working to improve that and up those numbers as well,” medical student Nathan Delacth said.<\/p>\n Delacth is also a member of Black Men in White Coats.<\/p>\n “When I was younger, I never had any role models who looked like me,” he said.<\/p>\n Training in a simulation lab, these future Black doctors are supporting each other and hope to inspire more to be like them.<\/p>\n “We’re hoping to enact change within the school itself, bringing more Black students to the school as well but also creating change within the community,” Delacth said.<\/p>\n They go to underserved communities with things like screening checks. The group is also working to improve access to better health care for Black neighbors.<\/p>\n “Ultimately, we want to uplift Black voices,” Delacth said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n