By Shawn Nowlin
Vital to increasing health outcomes for Black Americans is more representation in the medical field. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, just five percent of all active physicians are Black. Those numbers mirror the reality of physical therapists, dental hygienists, general practitioners, physician assistants, and many other professions in the medical field.
Young Docs, based in Washington, D.C., is a multi-generational mentoring, education, and pipeline to health careers program for high school boys throughout the Commonwealth. The Roanoke Chapter consists of four teens – Carrington McNeil, J’har Metcalf, Robert Funk, and Edem Akakpo. The quartet took people’s blood pressure and practiced CPR at a community pop-up clinic at the Gainsboro Library on July 6.
“With the information that these young brothers learn here, they go back to their neighborhoods and provide different health services. We know that is important because they have a way to engage the community in ways that I, as a doctor, simply can’t. They have a certain level of engagement that others don’t. And let’s be honest, if it weren’t for these young brothers, no one would be checking their blood pressure today,” Dr. Malcolm H. Woodland, co-founder and Director of Young Doctors DC, said.
Approximately $5,000 is how much it costs for a teen to go through the program. That amount was donated to McNeil through the Melrose-Rugby Neighborhood Forum.
“Our donation was made in Estelle McCadden’s name. It is part of her legacy,” Forum President Stephen Niamke said. “I have conversations with people every single day about different problems facing the community. I hear a lot of complaints, but not many people taking action to make a difference. The Young Docs organization is a concrete way to make a difference, not only in a young man’s life, but the community too.”
While taking classes at Howard University with dozens of other “young docs” in New York and DC earlier this summer, the Roanoke teens learned what it’s like to be in medical school and thrive in a professional healthcare environment. The young men remain in the program until they graduate from high school.
Young Docs mentor Doug Pitzer wants young men to become health ambassadors in their own communities. “Last month, the students participated in a program that included them receiving white doctor’s coats. Mentoring certainly works. When a teen feels that you care, your advice and words are more likely to resonate. It’s about building self-esteem and creating a vision for themselves at the same time. I have no doubt that the seeds we are planting today will one day blossom into something special,” he said.
Additional information about the program can be found at youngdocs.org.
