Black physicians in the state by building a community among current Black physicians, residents, and students working or living in Utah. Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare Within Utah and across the U.S., many African Americans and Black people don’t trust the health care system. The documented history of abuse, mistreatment, and racism within the health profession justifiably led to this mistrust. Black Utahns represent 1.9% of the current population but only make up 0.06% of all physicians in the State. It is 2022, and if we all work together, we can address this issue and show Black students a path into medicine. I established BPOU in late March of 2021 through the help of a non-physician colleague, Nchopia Nwokoma, who helped to begin the social and philanthropic organization called the Young Professionals of Salt Lake City or YPSLC. I only knew of about four Black physicians in March 2021. Although I knew organizing BPOU would likely reveal that there were more than just the four of us. Now, after 13 months, we have 23 members, and we continue to grow as we recruit and retain Black physicians in the State. The Goals of the Black Physicians of Utah Community to build belonging Creating a community of fellowship can also help more Black physicians remain in the state. Currently, many Black health professionals may feel like they don’t belong. They might not interact with any other people of color during the workday. By creating a greater sense of community among Black health professionals, we can help these talented physicians stay in the state. Investing in the future We are also working to recruit more Black students into the medical field. Our mentorship program is focused on undergraduates as well as medical students. However, there are less than two dozen Black medical students in Utah. The program will also help us influence students in their undergraduate years when they are still deciding on their future career paths. Organizational Spotlight| Continued from page 23 We are working to connect with Black student unions at the University of Utah, Weber State, Brigham Young University, and other colleges in the state to get in front of students either virtually or in person. We need to show young Black students they have options in the medical field; specifically, pre-med is a path for them, and we can and want to help. Representation in Medicine Matters It may not be well known to many non-BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) providers, as this information is generally not covered in medical school: healthcare outcomes are improved when a Black physician provides care to a Black patient. Research studies performed over the past three decades have demonstrated that a Black doctor can help increase important healthcare communication with Black patients, which can help with healthcare compliance, which could lead to offsetting some negative health outcomes. The reason Black patients often fare better with a Black doctor often comes down to the Black provider having increased cultural competency and less racial or implicit bias towards a Black patient. Therefore, our goals at BPOU are not only to increase the number of Black doctors in the State but to increase awareness and solutions towards addressing century-long health disparities amongst Black Americans. Having a resource of trusted black physicians in the community gives black citizens someone to turn to for health advice. They may feel more comfortable sharing their health issues, needs, and fears with doctors of similar backgrounds and ethnicity. While they might not trust the information they receive from the CDC or the government, they can trust a doctor who has been in their shoes. We can build a directory of black medical professionals, from midwives to dentists, to make it easy for people to find someone they trust to provide care. We know this is an important part of consistent care; when you trust your physician, you are more likely to seek care when you need it and are thus more likely to follow your doctor’s advice. Dr. Ferguson with his first MCAT Prep Scholars: (Left to Right) Isaiah Shipp, Madeika Vercella and Ayan Nor UtahAFP.org | 24
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