The Black Doctors Podcast

This episode feature Dr. Brooke Williams, an internal medicine physician. We talk about her pathway to medicine and how she decided to become a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine. Dr. William was an inaugural graduate of a brand new medical school and she shares her experiences. As she nears the end of her first year in practice, Dr. Williams shares some tips that she learned along the way. We wrap up...

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused by the CDC after 6 patients were diagnosed with blood clots (cavernous sinus thromboses) several days after receiving their injection. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met to discuss a way forward. Unfortunately, they made no recommendations regarding ending this pause. Dr. Will Parker and Dr. Govind Persad published an opinion piece in...

In this episode of the Black Doctors Podcast, I chat with Dr. Adedeji Olusanya, a PM&R resident. He shares his incredible story detailing his pathway to medicine. (It wasn't straightforward). He persevered through some exceptional challenges to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic medicine degree. He talks about the differences between DO and MD. He also describes how and why he chose to specialize...

In the wake of yet another episode of police brutality and misconduct ending in death for the victim, I am reviewing this article published in the AMA journal of ethics. Dr. Alden Landry, an Assistant Professor and Emergency Medicine physician was the primary author for this piece. With all of the headlines and events of the last year, there are clearly several widespread issues that need to be de...

Dr. Korie Grayson is a biomedical engineer, chemical engineering researcher, and a diversity advocate in STEM. She is a proud alumna of Norfolk State University where she earned her BS in Chemistry (2012). Korie obtained her MS (2017) and PhD (2020) in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. Currently, Korie is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan in Chemical Engine...

This week I discuss another hot topic: Digital Health Passes. Or, "Vaccine Passports" as they are more commonly called. This concept is not as new as some folks seem to think. There is a precedent set by circumstances such as mandatory Yellow Fever vaccination before travel to certain areas. In this episode, I review a couple of articles that discuss some of the legal and ethical issues associated...

What happens when the Physician becomes the patient? In this episode, Dr. Jamal Dixon shares his story. We start by talking about his pathway to becoming a physician. Dr. Dixon talks about some of the challenges he faced along the way and shares how his practice as an Internal Medicine Physician changed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dixon transparently shares his incredible sto...

With the implementation of the 2016 Cures Act, there are big changes coming to healthcare. One of those changes include increasing patient access to their healthcare information. Soon patient notes will be available via online portals. This is an incredibly huge adjustment for physicians and providers who are used to writing notes that are read only by other healthcare workers. In this episod...

As we close out Women's History Month, we are truly ending on a high note. This episode features Dr. Linda Suleiman, an Orthopedic Surgeon specialized in adult hip and knee replacement and reconstruction. (Dr. Suleiman was two years ahead of me at Howard University College of Medicine, so I've had the pleasure of knowing her since 2010!). She shares how she built her resume and worked to successfu...

This week, Psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Simon joins the show to tackle this serious and extremely important topic. During this episode we discuss the history and culture of medicine that is steeped in paternalism. We talk about the progress that has been made on these fronts. Dr. Simon and I share examples that we observed and share advice for where people can go for help, including the significance of...

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, we are celebrating extra hard this week! Congratulations to Student-Doctor Osose Oboh on matching to the Internal Medicine residency program of her dreams. We were privileged to speak with her and listen to her journey . After working as a professional photographer, she completed a Masters degree in Public Health. She attended Michigan State Unive...

This week I'm discussing an incredibly relevant topic. I have received several Ig messages and e-mails about responsible social media use for physicians and other healthcare professionals. Honestly, it was great to read and review the opinions on this timely issue. Most of the content for this episode comes from the American Medical Association Code of Ethics. Other organizations have weighed in o...

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, this week's episode features Britney Robbins, founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience. After several years working in the field of Venture Capital, Britney was inspired to bring these concepts to the community of Black and Brown youth in Chicago. The Gray Matter Experience is celebrating its 5th year in existence and the hundreds of lives th...

Is it ethical to provide financial compensation to patients receiving a COVID-19 vaccine? This week I'm discussing a question I have received several times. In this episode I discuss two proposed plans to pay $1,000 or more for being vaccinated. I discuss several ethical implications that should be addressed during this conversation. It is my hope that generating discussions on Clinical Medical Et...

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, we are thrilled to share the story of Dr. Patrice Smith, aka "The UnOrthoDoc". As a Howard University College of Dentistry trained Orthodontist, she has done an amazing job of excelling in her field while broadening her own horizons. In addition to opening her own practice, Dr. Smith also launched her own boutique candle line. She also manages a s...

Let's talk about autonomy. It is one of the 4 standard principles of medical ethics, and personally, it is my favorite. Thankfully medicine moved away from paternalism and is now actually seeking patient preference and informed decision making. What does autonomy really mean? What does it mean for patients? What does it mean for physicians and healthcare providers? What does autonomy look like in...

March is Women's History Month!! We are celebrating by featuring a lineup of some pretty incredible people.  Dr. Safiya Lyn-Lassiter is an Emergency Medicine Physician and graduate of Meharry Medical College. She talks about her experiences in the ER and how she has progressed to take on additional leadership positions within her facility. Dr. Lyn-Lassiter talks about balancing priorities and putt...

This week I am reviewing an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled, "Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines." This incredibly thoughtful and comprehensive piece discussed some of the pros and cons that policy-makers must consider when decided when and if to implement COVID-19 Vaccine mandates. Key take away points include:1. Currently the mRNA vaccines available in the US are...

This episode features Dr. Lydia Peters, a Physical Therapist. She discusses this amazing field and the positive effects she has on her patients. This episode is great for students interested in pursuing this degree path. Dr. Peters talks about the admissions process and the rigorous course-load and how she succeeded. TBDP is a volunteer passion project with the goal of inspiring all who listen. In...

In this episode I continue the conversation I started with Dr. Darrell Gray. Deciding between private and academic medicine is a huge decision. There are pros and cons to each practice model. I talk about the significant need for Black physicians to pursue (or at least consider) careers in academic medicine. I review an op-ed piece by Dr. Uche Blackstock entitled, "Why Black doctors like me are le...

This week's episode features Dr. Darrell Gray, a Gastroenterologist practicing at The Ohio State University. He is currently an Associate Professor and he explains what this academic title means. He breaks down the ranking system and talks about how to work towards promotion. Dr. Gray provides full disclosure of the hard work involved, which includes giving lectures, doing research and servin...

This week I give an overview of the book Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington. It gives a comprehensive history of Black America's shocking mistreatment at the hands of the medical establishment. This is a must read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between African Americans and the healthcare system. It is my hope that generating discussions on Clini...

In this episode we hear from Dr. Shani Scott, an Internal Medicine Physician and Assistant Program Director in New York City. We were classmates together at Howard University College of Medicine. After completing residency, Dr. Scott chose to practice in New York so that she could directly combat healthcare disparities in the Bronx. In this episode, she talks about her daily role as an academic In...

This week on Ethically Sourced, we're going back in time to revisit the story of Henrietta Lacks. She was a young, Black woman who's cervical cancer cells were preserved and used in research for the past 70+ years. Her story resulted in restorative justice from a major academic medical center as well as reform in clinical medical ethics. You can read more in the book, "The Immortal Life of Henriet...

This week we're chatting with Dr. Carl Truesdale, an Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon (ENT) currently completing his fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Truesdale is truly an enigma. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing his pathway through medicine and the set-up for his current fellowship. He talks about his multiple hobbies, including knitting, aviation, art and music. Dr. Truesdale also...