ABOUT US

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 3.1% of medical school student enrollment included Black males for the 1978-79 school year. This state of emergency is further revealed when we look at more recent statistics, in which the 2019-2020 data shows that only 2.9% of medical school enrollment included Black males.

With over 40 years of progress intended to mitigate health disparities, this issue has somehow worsened. Many organizations have delved into underlying causes behind this phenomenon; It has been recognized that much intervention is needed- as early as elementary school. Black men in medicine not only have to overcome systemic racism through the pipeline, but maneuver through a system that lacks resources and certain educational opportunities. The list goes on to include financial barriers, unseen role models, and a lack of organizations that are in place to support black men pursuing higher education.

At the Coalition of Black Men Physicians we are dedicated to work within the community and use evidence based data to address these same barriers that prevent Black men from getting through the medical pipeline and prevent them from accessing equitable opportunities. It is necessary for stakeholders to convene and execute a shared mission and vision. Showcasing role models in the field through our social media outlets and providing a platform for shared experiences create the foundation of what we aim to provide through networking and fellowship. The organization has taken this national crisis personally, and we aim to provide measurable solutions in the next 5 years to
dismantle this broken system and change the face of medicine to better reflect and serve our diverse nation.




Our Mission

The Coalition of Black Men Physicians is a network of Black men physicians committed to the advancement of students coming through the medical pipeline and increasing the number of Black men in the health workforce. We serve as a philanthropic source of funds to individuals in medical school and take part in projects mitigating health disparities when it comes to equity in medical school programs and residency spots. We bring forth awareness and address the health equity gap pertaining to the lack of Black men in the medical profession by providing scholarships, promoting media campaigns and by facilitating programs focused on increasing workforce diversity in healthcare.  



National Black Men Physicians Day Press Release


The Coalition of Black Men Physicians will host a fundraiser event to celebrate the inaugural National Black Men Physicians Day on September 12 at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. National Black Men Physicians Day will bring awareness to the need for increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce and give exposure to the health inequities that exist in medicine. This day of recognition will celebrate excellence by providing inspiration through collaboration amongst black men in the medical pipeline and community stakeholders, and will create a platform to support black male who are pursuing higher education by increasing recruitment in medicine. Attendees at the event will tour Sofi Stadium’s executive suites, locker room, the field, and conclude with a networking happy hour. Sponsors include City National Bank, The Weight Room Therapy, LA CARE Health Plan, Stoggles, and Health X Hollywood.

“These statistics show us that a health emergency is taking place not only in regards to the lack of diversity in the medical educational pipeline, but also greatly impacts patients who desperately seek culturally competent care and providers who can relate to their needs.” said President of the Coalition of Black Men Physicians Lauren Senkbeil. “We need to move with urgency and come up with solutions together.”

Today, less than 4% of practicing physicians are black men, a statistic that has remained stagnant since the 1970’s despite steady increases in the numbers of black men and women living in the United States, and only 2.9% of medical school enrollment included Black males in 2020. There are still significant barriers to training culturally competent black male physicians capable of transforming health in medically underserved communities. With this day of recognition, the Coalition of Black Men Physicians is dedicated to raising funds for black male medical students and garnering the support of those who have a like-minded mission. The date of the event, September 12, is in honor of the founders’ friend, Dr. Kwame Firempong, a fourth-year medical student at University of California Los Angeles who recently passed away. September 12 is his birthday.

The Coalition of Black Men Physicians Executive board members Dr. Rasheed Ivey, Dr. Richard Morgan, and Lauren Senkbeil were catalyzed to co-find this organization after the passing of their friend Dr. Kwame Firempong who was a fourth year medical student at University of California Los Angeles. As they move forward to address the lack of black men in medicine, they are sensitive to what students in the pipeline endure as they know what is required to get into medical school and be successful in this field. The organization is dedicated to creating a cultural movement where pathways are created for black men who aspire to enter medicine through providing fellowship, mentorship, programs that prepare students with academic resources, and financial support of course- scholarship funds. The organization aims to provide measurable solutions in the next five years to dismantle this broken system and change the face of medicine to better reflect and serve our diverse nation.