We are excited to welcome Dr. Dale Okorodudu to Memphis again for our Black Men in White Coats Annual Summit,” said Lilian Nyindodo, professor of biomedical sciences at Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine and sponsor of BaptistU HealthCORE initiative, which includes Black Men in White Coats. “This is an important initiative for our community and the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in health care. Black Men in White Coats aligns with our efforts to offer resources to local students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and served as the foundation for our BaptistU HealthCORE program.
Baptist Health Sciences University hosts Black Men in White Coats for sixth year
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 6, 2024– More than 200 students, parents and professionals attended Baptist Health Sciences University HealthCORE Black Men in White Coats: Building Diverse Health Care Professionals summit for fifth grade through college students interested in pursuing medical and science careers.
Dr. Dale Okorodudu, founder of the national Black Men in White Coats initiative, served as keynote speaker. Other speakers included Samuel Pieh, CEO and administrator for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, and Dr. Tamunoinemi Bob-Manuel, interventional cardiologist with Stern Cardiovascular Foundation. Activities included speed networking, hands-on demonstrations and opportunities to learn about local resources and financial literacy.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Dale Okorodudu to Memphis again for our Black Men in White Coats Annual Summit,” said Lilian Nyindodo, professor of biomedical sciences at Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine and sponsor of BaptistU HealthCORE initiative, which includes Black Men in White Coats. “This is an important initiative for our community and the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in health care. Black Men in White Coats aligns with our efforts to offer resources to local students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and served as the foundation for our BaptistU HealthCORE program.”
BaptistU HealthCORE exposes students to careers in health care and provides them with resources, support and mentoring opportunities to succeed. Baptist started offering this programming after hosting its first Black Men in White Coats summit in 2018. The goal of the program was to inspire underrepresented minority students to consider medical careers and increase ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the field of medicine.
Baptist was named a chapter of the national Black Men in White Coats initiative in October 2023. The initiative was started after a 2015 Association of American Medical Colleges report found that fewer African American males had applied to and graduated from medical school in 2014 than in 1978 despite more Black men graduating from college.
Baptist Health Sciences University (formerly known as Baptist College of Health Sciences) was started in 1912. BHSU offers 15 programs of study, including the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which will accept its first class of students in fall 2024. In 2017, the Memphis Business Journal ranked the school first among Memphis-area colleges and universities for the best return on investment. Based on a comparison of postgraduate earnings with cost of attendance, BHSU alumni earn more than graduates of any other college or university in the area. Visit www.baptistu.edu for more information.
###