Increasing Representation in Medicine
We continue our Black History Month series with FMA member Samari Blair, MPH, CPH, a third-year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine who is passionate about health equity as well as diversity and inclusion in medicine. Samari, an aspiring pediatrician, said watching her uncle live with end-stage renal disease was pivotal in her decision to study medicine. “I felt like I couldn’t do anything for him even though he sacrificed so much for me growing up and continues to do so to this day,” she said. “I think the helpless feeling for my uncle was the tipping point for me to pursue a career in medicine and advocate for those who need it the most." Read on to discover more about Samari's inspiration.
On choosing pediatrics as her future specialty:
“I chose to pursue pediatrics because I love being an integral part of a child’s upbringing and being able to make a positive impact on their future. There were so many positive experiences in my childhood and adolescent years that have made me the person who I am today. I owe a lot to the individuals in my earlier years who really went above and beyond to invest in various aspects of my life, health, school, etc.
“The most fulfilling part about pediatrics is seeing the resiliency of the children. To see young kids live through serious diseases, overcome adversity, and have so much hope and positivity is really inspiring. It pushes me to be a better person each and every day.”
The ‘tipping point’ that inspired her to study medicine:
“I think one of my most impactful experiences is watching my uncle live his life with end-stage renal disease for as long as I can remember. I remember growing up and my uncle having to do dialysis three times a week but still managing to pick me up from school, take me to dance practice, and be front row for all my dance recitals. When his kidney transplant was rejected and he had to go back on the transplant list, I felt completely helpless. I felt like I couldn’t do anything for him even though he sacrificed so much for me growing up and continues to do so to this day. I think the helpless feeling for my uncle was the tipping point for me to pursue a career in medicine and advocate for those who need it the most.”
“It’s important that we take a systemic approach to increasing representation in medicine: working on the pipeline to medical school, decreasing costs of application/MCAT fees, offering financial assistance to those of low SES status, providing academic and mental support for those underrepresented in medicine throughout medical school and residency.”
Why BIPOC representation in medicine is so important:
“A big issue that I’ve personally seen a lot as a third-year medical student is mistrust (of) medical providers. Our country has a long history of taking advantage of BIPOC populations, especially black individuals. A lot of modern-day medical specialties were developed out of experimenting on slaves for medical research (I highly recommend everyone read “Medical Apartheid”). These injustices remain at the forefront of POC’s minds some 200 years later.
“Minority populations have a general fear of physicians and other medical professions, which perpetuates a dangerous cycle of not seeing providers and negative health outcomes. This issue has been especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic as we see vaccine hesitancy and decreased vaccination rates in predominately minority populations. Representation can be so important in decreasing mistrust. There is growing literature on how minority patients are more likely to trust their physicians when their physicians look like them or come from a similar background. I’ve personally had patients of minority status who were hesitant to get the flu and/or COVID vaccine for themselves or their kids but later changed their minds after having a conversation with me.
“It’s important that we take a systemic approach to increasing representation in medicine: working on the pipeline to medical school, decreasing costs of application/MCAT fees, offering financial assistance to those of low SES status, providing academic and mental support for those underrepresented in medicine throughout medical school and residency.”
On her goals and vision for her future in medicine:
“My number-one goal is to match next year! I would love to be in a pediatric residency (program) that is dedicated to increasing representation in medicine and promoting health equity in underserved and underrepresented populations. I likely will go into primary care, so that in addition to being the primary point of contact for children in medical need, I can also use my public health education to create and promote various community resources.”