Program highlights avenues to medical careers, especially for black male students
The first-ever Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit is coming to Cleveland this weekend on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22.
Black Men in White Coats [BMWCx] is an initiative founded in 2013 in response to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges highlighting the decreasing number of black male applicants to medical school.
The goal of next weekend’s activities is to engage black youth — boys, girls, non-binary — to consider careers in medicine through mentorship, network and exposure. Local sponsors University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are issuing a special invitation to students, parents, caregivers, educators and guidance counselors to attend the free events this weekend. Case and UH have assembled a team of medical students, physician residents, doctors, nurses, and others from Cleveland area healthcare organizations to engage with attendees.
Friday, October 21, from 6p-9p will be an exclusive screening of the documentary Black Men in White Coats. Attendees will learn about the impact of unequal representation in healthcare on the health outcomes of black and brown communities. Afterwards there will be opportunities to speak with some local health care professionals from the Greater Cleveland area.
Saturday from 9a-3p will be a full day of interactive sessions. Registrants will get the opportunity to network with health care professionals, engage with influential speakers, & participate in several age-appropriate hands-on activities put on by the departments/providers of University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, and VA (e.g., surgery simulations, suturing clinics, casting clinics, ambulance tours, etc.).
Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb will give opening remarks on Saturday.
Those interested in attending should register here. Registration is free but limited.
All events will be held at Case’s Tinkham Veale Center, 11308 Bellflower Road [44106].
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