Keeping it in the Family: Black History Month 2021
For my last Black History Month in medical school, I decided to photograph two doctors, here in Flint, that welcomed me into my OB/GYN (obstetrics and gynecology) clerkship, Dr. Larry Young and Dr. Omari Young.
I know. They have the same last name because they are a father and son powerhouse here in Flint. When you’re on the L&D floor at Hurley looking for Dr. Young, you always have to designate whether it’s Dr. Young or young Young. LOL. Respectfully.
Both of these doctors graduated from Howard University College of Medicine, one of the 4 HBCU medical schools in the United States, in the class of ‘83 and ‘13. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tens of thousands of Black/African-American doctors this country would have had if not for the Flexner Report which caused the closure of all but two Black medical schools following its release in 1910. If you have not heard about that report, tap in to the link to get some much needed historical context on one of the reasons why Black doctors only make up 4-5% of the physician workforce in the United States.
Howard is one of the medical schools where the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) was founded, the association that I currently serve as National President. It is through this non-profit organization that I have met so many dynamic Black physicians over the past few years. There is nothing more important than the work the SNMA does to diversify the face of medicine. It is so important to have a physician workforce that represents the population here in our country. Little Black boys and girls need to see what they could be, and by increasing the number of graduating students of color, the SNMA works to do just that! I imagined that I would move to Flint, Michigan for my clinical training and meet folks who were making history in their own right and inspiring the next generation of physicians. However, I did not know of the father and son who both returned to their hometown of Flint to improve the care that Black mothers would receive.
With Dr. Larry Young, I delivered my first beautiful Black baby girl. He walked in the room that Sunday morning in his Sunday best (pre-Covid era) and said, “ You ready?!” I had no choice but to be! He was right by my side, making sure my hands were steady as I guided the baby out into the world. It was a powerful moment for me. Tears rolled down my eyes as I laid the healthy little girl onto her mother.
With Dr. Omari Young, I got to hold the camera (laparoscope) for a second during my first gynecological surgery. Of course the photographer should be handling the camera right?! He walked through the steps of the surgery, pointing out the relevant anatomy we were seeing. Both experiences were eye-opening to say the least.
As this Black History Month approached, they crossed my mind as the perfect people to photograph. So this January, during a lunch break while on outpatient medicine, I did just that. It was weird shooting in the hospital, wearing my mask, wiping down my equipment between outfit changes, going super speed so I could eat and be back in time to chart review for my next patient. But the experience was worth it. It isn’t often that you come across two generations of physicians, working in the same hospital, within the same department, who are Black men. Talk about finding a needle in a haystack.
The impact they had on my love for teaching and medical education is one I will not forget. I hope that I will be able to finish my training (graduating in 3 months!) and become a doctor who has just as much of an impact on medical students as they had on me.
