Join us on Friday, February 4 at 5:30 pm EST for a special livestream event, “Black Women in Medicine: A Conversation About the Black Experience." Led by UMHS graduate Venus Swearingen, M.D. and third-year UMHS medical student Eboni Peoples, the event will feature a candid conversation between the two women regarding their journey to medical school. They will discuss some of their unique challenges while working in medicine, the significance of representation, and why building trust is critical to delivering better health outcomes for the Black community. Following the discussion, Venus and Eboni will answer audience questions during a live Q & A session. The event will be livestreamed below, as well as on the UMHS YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages. The presentation will also be recorded for future viewing.
“As UMHS celebrates Black History Month we wanted to create a platform and foster an honest conversation about what it’s like for Black people, and Black women in particular, who are pursuing a career in medicine,” said Warren Ross, president of UMHS. “We are proud of the diverse community UHMS represents, and recognize that by promoting discussion about the Black experience we can hopefully encourage and offer support to the next generation of doctors.”
Black Americans comprise 13 percent of the U.S. population but only make up 4 percent of the active physician workforce, with Black women doctors representing only 2 percent. However, research overwhelmingly demonstrates that increased representation by Black doctors leads to enhanced health literacy, improved healthcare delivery and health outcomes, and an expanded role in shaping health policies and greater health equity.
Venus and Eboni will address their path to medical school, share their experiences as students and healthcare providers, exchange stories about why it’s important to connect with your patients and build trust, and offer resources for people of color who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
The virtual town hall event is the latest in the series of presentations featuring UMHS faculty and alumni sharing their expertise on topics targeted towards current and prospective medical students and healthcare professionals. Past events include, Ask a Microbiologist, Suicide Prevention and the State of Psychiatry, and LGBTQ+ Medicine and Theory.
Ryan is the Director of Marketing at UMHS. He holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Southern California and a BA in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also a musician an avid outdoorsman.
