Accomplishments of BPOU to Date: • Enrolled over 19 students into our mentorship program, where we paired a Black pre-med or medical student with a current BPOU physician member • Participated in over 10 webinars addressing COVID education and vaccine updates • Developed partnerships with University of Utah Health Plans, University of Utah School of Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, U.S. Airforce and the Utah Hospital Association • Participated in several COVID vaccination drives to improve vaccination numbers in minority communities. • Participated in several health fairs and churches where we educated the public on preventative health measures and the importance of seeking care How All Family Doctors Can Help Support the Mission of BPOU Family Medicine physicians in Utah can be the lead for change, as we are for so many aspects of healthcare, by doing several things: 1. Become an affiliated member so Black pre-med students can shadow and learn from a doctor who is deeply aware of the institutional and structural forces often working against these students. 2. Be willing to work or partner with BPOU during community education and awareness events so Black Utahns will have increased trust in the health care system. Increasing trust amongst healthcare providers consistently leads to better health outcomes, and family doctors can play a big part in that. 3. BPOU is non-profit and thus can only be sustained through funding acquired through donations, fundraising and grants. Family physicians (or anyone who wants to support our organization) could assist BPOU through donations towards scholarships, education campaigns or aiding in the research and writing of grants. Ultimately, our goal is to improve health equity within the state. If you are a Black student or Black physician in Utah, consider joining our organization and visit our website. We offer easy access to socialization, mentorship, and fellowship, without dues or fees. BPOU provides an opportunity to positively change the lives of other health professionals and Black people Noorda COM students learning and chatting with Dr. Adebayo Adesomo (MFM-Fellow) Dr. Erica Baiden, Dr. Jessica Jones and Dr. Ferguson introduce Family Medicine as a specialty to Pre-Med and Medical student mentees. in Utah and become involved. If you are ready to join us, we are here to provide you with support and community. Richard A. Ferguson, MD, MBA, is the President and Founder of Black Physicians of Utah. He is also the Chief Medical Officer at Health Choice Utah. For more information and to connect with on social media please visit www.bpou.org. Having a resource of trusted black physicians in the community gives black citizens someone to turn to for health advice. 25 |
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