Strength In Numbers
During a gathering of physicians Darrell Gray, II, MD, MPH suggested #BlackMenInMedicine to represent the initiation to recruit minority males into medicine. Dr. Dale Okorodudu mentioned the Facebook group with a membership of nearly 500 strong with the same name started by Dr. Henry Lewis, III. Our goal of re-purposing #BlackMenInMedicine is to encourage the universal use of the hashtag across social media. Our hope is that the hashtag will be used not only by black physicians and the allies similarly passionate about increasing diversity in medicine, but by anyone wanting to recognize the many accomplishments of black men in medicine.
With use of #BlackMenInMedicine, we aim to:
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Provide visible role models of black men in medicine, both as they practice medicine, and perhaps more importantly, how they spend their time outside of the clinic or hospital
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Highlight achievements of black male physicians, as well as black men in medical school, and those aspiring to the premed track
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Inspire black men to pursue careers in medicine and become motivated to care for communities of color
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Highlight outstanding achievements of black doctors in both community and academic medicine and practice
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Provide support, mentoring and sponsorship of black women in medicine who face additional challenges at the intersection of gender and race
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We pledge to speak up when we witness gender-biased microaggressions, blatant sexual harassment, or harmful bias and discrimination toward other minority groups
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Together, we aim to ensure a safe and inclusive educational, training, and working environment for all of us
BMIM ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Ray Bignall
O. N. Ray Bignall II, MD, FAAP, FASN is Director of Kidney Health Advocacy and Community Engagement in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, Dr. Bignall completed his general pediatrics residency, clinical fellowship in nephrology, and NIH post-doctoral research fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
As a physician-advocate, Dr. Bignall’s work addresses the social determinants of child health, kidney disease, and transplantation through community-based scholarship, engagement, and advocacy. He is an appointed Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN); the Founding Chair of the ASN’s Health Care Justice Committee; and serves as a member of the Council on Medical Legislation for the National Medical Association. Dr. Bignall is a recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Award; a John E Lewy Fund Advocacy Scholar of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology; and was named a 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health by the National Minority Quality Forum and the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.
Corey Gatewood
(Co-Founder)
Corey Gatewood was born and raised in the inner city of Boston, Massachusetts. He resided there until he moved to Palo Alto, California to attend Stanford University. During his time at Stanford, he served as a two sport athlete playing Football and Track and Field, while earning a degree in Human Biology.
After graduation, he went on to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, where he played Cornerback. After his stint in the National Football League, he returned to Stanford University to conduct research in injury prevention and rehabilitation. His research experiences culminated with multiple publications, domestic and international presentations. As a result of these accomplishments he decided to attend medical school.
Currently, he is a fourth-year medical student at The Ohio State College of Medicine entering the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As a member of the inner city, Corey did not meet a black male physician until he was in his second year of college. Due to this fact he realized that in order for more students to choose the path of medicine, early exposure would prove pivotal in the recruitment of male minorities. With the momentum and mentorship led by Dr. Quinn Capers IV, MD and Dr. Darrell Gray MD, MPH, he decided to create this space to help the growing initiative to recruit black males to medicine.
Dr. Mark Mcintyre
(Co-Founder)
Mark McIntyre II was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He earned his Masters in Business Administration at Case Western Reserve University. He graduated from The Ohio State College of Medicine. Currently completing his residency at the Baylor University in Emergency Medicine.
Throughout his journey, Mark worked a variety of jobs including working as a medical assistant, teacher, construction worker, and for an insurance company. In the end, everything culminated in him gaining acceptance into medical school and beginning on the path towards becoming a physician. Mark has always had a passion for the advancement of underserved groups, particularly black men.
While in undergraduate, he founded a group dedicated to retention and graduation of black male students. In addition, he has served as both a big brother/big sister mentor and as an instructor for the boys in girls club within predominately black neighborhoods. While in medical school, Mark has continued his quest by becoming involved with the Black Men in Medicine movement. He hopes that through his efforts, he can inspire the next generation of black male physicians.
Dr. Habeeb Suara
(Co-Founder)
Habeeb Suara is the son of Nigerian immigrants and was raised in Bolivar, TN. He graduated from The Ohio State College of Medicine, and he is currently completing his residency at the University of Cincinnati in Family Medicine
Habeeb has been a musician, producer and audio engineer for almost 15 years, starting off as a percussionist and later becoming a music artist and podcast host. His passion for recruiting more black men in medicine comes from his upbringing in rural Tennessee and the impact black male role models had on his own journey. He has been lucky to have teachers and family members who constantly affirmed his dream of becoming a physician. Due to that fact, he hopes to be the same kind of influence for future generations of black male physicians
Help Us Increase the Number of BMIM
1. Through strength in numbers BMIM has aspirations to fund a scholarship for a young black male minority interested in pursuing medicine. The funds for this scholarship will go toward tools to help him apply to medical school: MCAT registration, MCAT prep course and resources, application fees and travel expenses for medical school, all as a means to increase recruitment in the field of medicine.
2. Connect mentors and mentees through in person and virtual mentorship at all levels of the medicine
3. Facilitate empowering discussions amongst physicians and students at every level along the medical journey
4. Highlight the excellent work of the black males in this community, we are more than just athletes