By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
If you’re Black and looking for a doctor, it might be hard to find one who looks like you. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates that just 5.2 percent of physicians are Black, despite African Americans comprising nearly 14 percent of the U.S. population.
The Howard University Medical Alumni Association (HUMAA) has stepped up to address this gap through Need More Black Doctors, a campaign designed to strengthen the pipeline of Black physicians by tackling the systemic barriers they face.
“Systemic racism is real— the historical exclusion from medicine; lack of access to medical training; lack of finance; lack of exposure at all ages to science education, resources, mentors and role models; and financial indebtedness,” said Dr. Annette Bey-Shaw, president of HUMAA’s board of directors and 1984 graduate. “Even once a decision is made to pursue a medical degree the road to success is often uncharted for Black Americans.”
The AAMC reports that while Black applicants for medical school increased by 2.8 percent in 2024, there was a 11.6 percent decrease in the number of Black students who actually enrolled compared to 2023. This was the third consecutive year of declines, according to the AAMC.
HUMAA is hoping to stop this trend. Through Need More Black Doctors, the organization provides scholarship opportunities to aspiring physicians and deploys emergency grants to medical students experiencing financial hardships. It also hosts educational workshops, networking events and leadership training to prepare students for their future medical careers.
The organization’s larger objective is to expand awareness— both in the medical community and broader society— about the importance of representation in health care, including its impact on patient outcomes.
In a 2023 study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers found that U.S. counties with higher representation of Black primary care doctors had longer life expectancy and lower mortality rates among Black patients. Dr. Earl Thurmond, a 1987 graduate of Howard University College of Medicine, said this is, in part, due to a greater level of trust.
“Trust is the cornerstone of the physician-patient relationship, and there’s more trust based upon what people see, what people hear and what people understand about the culture of individuals,” said Thurmond.
He emphasized that Black doctors are also more likely to practice in underserved communities, which face greater health disparities.
“Data shows that when you have more African-American physicians, they tend to practice in areas where African-American people are,” said Thurmond. “That brings health care closer to the population that’s in need.”
At present, HUMAA is working to expand the reach of the Need More Black Doctors campaign and to attract more donations to support scholarships and grants for students. For students who are considering pursuing a medical career, Thurmond encouraged them to remain persistent and resilient in spite of the challenges.
“More, importantly, think of the impact you’ll have on the greater community in pushing yourself to greater heights. It’s a wonderful career,” said Thurmond. “We need more African-American young people to go into health care. It’s a public need.”
