The underrepresentation of Black women in medicine is a systemic issue, but for a new generation of healers, Black Girl White Coat (BGWC) is providing a critical solution.
Founded in 2016 by Dr. Sandra Coker, a Houston native and 2020 graduate of McGovern Medical School, the organization was born from a simple yet profound realization that she had not met a physician who looked like her until college.
“I created Black Girl White Coat in 2016 as a first-year medical student for one reason that still rings true today: to be the woman and mentor I needed when I was younger,” she says. “Mentoring Black women on their unique road to a career in healthcare means visibility for the girls who never saw someone who looked like them in the roles they dreamed of. It also means exemplifying excellence in spaces that have historically excluded them.”
What began as a personal YouTube vlog sharing Coker’s journey has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit with a powerful online presence and a robust mentorship program. Its mission is to serve as a vital resource for aspiring Black female physicians, providing the support and transparent guidance that was so often missing for its founder.
Only 2.8 percent of U.S. physicians are Black women, despite Black women making up about 7 percent of the population.
“That gap is not just a statistic; it means fewer mentors, fewer role models and fewer voices in the rooms where life-changing decisions are made,” Coker explains. “Mentorship is a core pillar of BGWC because I believe the guidance and advocacy a mentor provides can change the trajectory of a student’s career and ultimately, the health of the communities they will one day serve.”
Dr. Joyce Idehen is the BGWC’s director of communications. Her path to becoming a family medicine physician was anything but straightforward. She first worked as a nurse and then faced significant hurdles, including the financial and academic demands of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The high cost of MCAT tutors and test preparation resources can create an unfair advantage for those with greater financial support.
“The MCAT is a beast of its own. The struggle with the exam led me to attend a medical school in the Caribbean,” Idehen says. “This is a less traditional route many students take to circumvent the highly competitive process of American medical schools.”
Resources and accomplishments
The organization has awarded over $60,000 in scholarships to help students with application fees, MCAT costs and tuition.
Idehen notes that social media has been an invaluable tool for BGWC, allowing them to showcase the diversity of Black women in medicine. This powerful representation is a constant reminder that success is achievable, even in a field where Black women make up only a small percentage of the physician workforce.
While progress is being made, Idehen expresses concern that recent political shifts, such as the loss of affirmative action, could threaten these gains. She stresses that organizations like BGWC, which are not government-funded, are more crucial than ever for intentionally recruiting and supporting underrepresented minorities.
“BGWC’s goal is not just to get women into medical school but to ensure they have the resources and support to stay in,” said Idehen. “It is about transforming personal struggles into a collective force, creating a vital pipeline for a new generation of Black female physicians and inspiring a future of healers who reflect their communities.”
This article was reprinted with permission from the Defender.
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