As a toddler, 40-year-old Dontal Johnson dreamed of turning into a physician, however by no means noticed himself represented within the career.
“I had by no means seen a Black physician rising up, and one of many crazier issues is I by no means noticed a Black physician till I hit school,” Johnson mentioned.
Johnson determined to use to medical faculties in Texas, however when a good friend informed him a couple of potential college in Nashville, Tennessee, stuffed with Black college students, he was in disbelief.
“He began describing a spot of people who regarded like me that have been dentists, docs, scientists. So I went dwelling that evening. It was nonetheless — I had dialup web — so I needed to look forward to it to pop up. After which these picture stills got here throughout from Meharry, and I utilized that evening at perhaps like 1 or 2 a.m.”
After graduating from Meharry Medical Faculty — a traditionally Black establishment — he determined to remain in the neighborhood, and is now a pediatrician and professor there.
“I believe one of many issues that is actually coming to mild, that affected person inhabitants of African Individuals and the way systemic racism, how historical past, how the well being care career general has not at all times been there for this affected person inhabitants,” Johnson mentioned.
Black sufferers have higher general health outcomes when handled by Black docs, according to recent studies.
To additional these connections, former New York Metropolis Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a $600 million reward to all 4 medical faculties at traditionally Black faculties and universities — Meharry, Morehouse College of Medication, Howard College Faculty of Medication and Charles R. Drew College of Medication and Science. Collectively they’ve educated roughly 50% of all Black docs in america, in line with the Affiliation of American Medical Schools.
At the moment, African Individuals make up about 14% of the inhabitants, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau. However they signify simply 5.2% of docs nationwide, in line with AAMC.
“Having a well being care skilled is necessary in the neighborhood, but additionally having a Black health care professional raises all of the boats,” mentioned Dr. Valerie Montgomery-Rice, president of Morehouse College of Medication in Atlanta, Georgia. “Initially, it should enable us to coach and prepare extra Black and Brown physicians, and it should enable these college students to have extra selection in the place they need to apply and to be much less burdened with debt.”
That is one thing she’s already seen.
In 2020, Bloomberg gave the Morehouse College of Medication $26 million to assist college students pay down debt. Resident doctor Jamil Joyner acquired $100,000.
“It not solely says, ‘We imagine in Black docs,’ it says, ‘We imagine in Black establishments, and the way they may play a task in changing health care for Black people,'” Joyner mentioned.
For Dr. Dontal Johnson, extra funding in Black docs is required.
“I am a dwelling witness of that, of coaching of African American physicians, physicians that cater and take care of the underserved. So whenever you have a look at the information collectively and say that, hey, after we associate with African American physicians and we put them in communities, we truly see much less strokes, we see much less hypertension in the neighborhood, we see much less weight problems,” Johnson mentioned.
With more healthy communities, comes a more healthy nation.