Melanin Medics

UPCOMING EVENT: Interview Webinar 🌟 Join us at our interview webinar where we break down the skills needed to be successful at your medical interviews, and answer your questions about the interview process. Aspiring medics, you don’t want to miss this! Date: 23rd November 2024 Time: 9am-10:30am Location: Zoom 🔗 Sign up: https://lnkd.in/ehAfaNrR

BHM: Allyship All Year Round 🖤 As black history month draws to an end for this year, it is important to remember that health equity is a year-round commitment. Whether you are a medic, a patient, or an organisation, you can take continuous action to make meaningful change in healthcare for black patients. 📢 Be a Voice for Your Black Patients 
 Healthcare professionals, it’s vital to listen, learn, and advocate for your Black patients. Your position as a healthcare professional can amplify their concerns and ensure they receive the care they deserve. 📊 Support Research on Health Disparities
 Research into racial bias in healthcare such as the pulse oximetry disparity, highlight areas for improvement in medical devices. There is a need to push for more research and innovation that is inclusive and addresses these disparities. 🏥 Advocate for Health Education
 Cultural competence in medical education leads to more inclusive care. Making future doctors aware of racial and cultural nuances can lead to better experiences and outcomes for patients. 🤝 Collaborate for Health Equity
 Partner with organisations that champion health equity. Lasting change in healthcare can only be made when groups come together with similar goals in mind. 🔎 Be Mindful
 As well as their medical history, your patient’s race, socioeconomic status, and background shape their healthcare experiences. Compassion and understanding are key to providing equitable care. #BHM #ReclaimingTheNarrative #HealthEquity #MelaninMedics

🎙️NEW Episode of The No Scrubs Podcast: The People’s Doctor, OUT NOW! Episodes can be watched here: https://buff.ly/3W8VZvs or listened to here: https://buff.ly/4cWMZjM Remember to subscribe, like, and share the No Scrubs Podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes, and follow us on social media! Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Melanin Medics organisation or any other institutions or organisations we are affiliated with

🗞️ NEW BLOG POST: Reclaiming Narratives Did you know that "black surgeons were 27% less likely to be promoted than their white colleagues between 2016 to 2020, with black women being 42% less likely." Our blog this month explores the roots of current narratives surrounding Black patients and medical professionals, including systemic issues, and particularly highlighting the need to advocate for change. 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/etk2RtQY

Reclaiming the Narrative 🌟 This black history month, we are celebrating medics who are reclaiming the narrative in medicine. In particular, the notion that black medics are not a monolith. From the decision to apply, through university and right up to completion of specialty training, medicine can be incredibly consuming and leave little space to explore interests outside of it. There are countless career paths in, around, and outside of medicine, and we are celebrating medics who are excelling in these spaces. 💻 Dr Ife Akano-Williams has always known she wanted a varied career, and made the decision to make this a reality during her foundation training. After doing an aesthetics course, she was able to rent out a clinic space and independently start practising aesthetics alongside locuming. During those years she also did some part time contract work in health tech, and realised this was something she wanted to do full time. After 18 months of hard work and networking, she was able to secure a full time role as a product manager for a health tech company. Carving out her own path in medicine was something she always wanted to do, and was able to turn her dream into a reality. 🎙️ Ademola Oyejobi-Mabadeje is an award winning poet and medical student from South London. He has worked with organisations such as BMW, Guap Magazine, Timberland EU, and has made TV appearances. Adé captures the minds of many with spoken word performances across the UK. Alongside being a medical student, he has facilitated poetry workshops for The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and The National Literacy Trust. In 2021, Adé's uplifting poem 'Let Me Be Me' was published by The Happy Newspaper, reaching over 2000 UK schools. He has released several critically acclaimed projects and two singles as an independent artist, showing the ability to excel in creative spaces outside of medicine. 🖤Dr Emma Amoafo-Mensah is a consultant dermatologist and content creator. As the founder of House of Medics she provides space for mentorship, career development and networking, as well as exploring health education through events such as 'Girls Glow Ghana'. Expertise in healthcare does not have to be confined to a hospital and Dr Emma uses her online platform to share insights into skincare, black hair care and medical training. How are you reclaiming the narrative in medicine? #BHM #ReclaimingTheNarrative #MelaninMedics

🎙️NEW Episode of The No Scrubs Podcast: Sickle Cell and Medical School ft Fejiro, OUT NOW! Episodes can be watched here: https://buff.ly/3W8VZvs or listened to here: https://buff.ly/4cWMZjM Remember to subscribe, like, and share the No Scrubs Podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes, and follow us on social media! Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Melanin Medics organisation or any other institutions or organisations we are affiliated with

How do we prevent digital health solutions from exacerbating health inequalities? Digital health solutions are rapidly integrating into medicine, but ensuring they maintain high standards of care for everyone is crucial. Inclusivity and diversity are key to this effort, beyond just varied training sets. Explore current solutions and tools for designing new projects, and discuss ethical considerations, including identifying and adapting to traditionally excluded population groups, at the Royal Society of Medicine on Wednesday 23 October. #healthinequalities #healthcareinequalities #digitalhealth https://lnkd.in/eCeTPPT6

I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak and attend the 6th Annual Let's Talk About... Black Women and Breast Cancer Conference yesterday in London at the Royal Society of Medicine, graciously organized by Dr. Georgette Oni. It was an honor to present on the role of AI in breast cancer care, a topic that I believe has immense potential to transform how we provide care for breast patients. What made this event even more special was being surrounded by so many inspiring black female consultants and healthcare professionals, all prominent in their fields. Seeing these brilliant women excel and lead in healthcare was not only empowering but deeply inspiring to me as a black woman. Meeting the amazing Dr. Aziza Sesay was a standout moment for me, we had a wonderful conversation that left me feeling even more motivated to continue advocating for change and diversity in healthcare. Another highlight for me was hearing Dr Olubukola Ayodele and Sarah Adomah speak so passionately about the disparities in cancer care and the urgent need for diversity in clinical trials. Their emphasis on the inclusion of women in research being relatively new, and even more so for black women, really struck a chord with me. Currently, in many clinical trials, black women are often grouped under a single "black" category, but as we know, "black" can cover a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. There is a real need for further stratification to ensure that healthcare solutions are truly accurate, inclusive, and tailored to the diverse needs of black women. We also heard amazing and powerful stories from breast cancer survivors, whose strength and resilience continue to inspire and remind us why this work is so important. The event coincided with Black Health Equity Day, an initiative by HealForBlackPeople making it all the more meaningful to discuss the challenges and opportunities we face in closing the gaps in healthcare for black women. I'm proud to have been part of such an empowering and important day! Let’s keep pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes, and creating change. #BreastCancerCare #AIInHealthcare #BlackWomenInMedicine #HealthEquity #BlackHealthEquityDay #WomenInScience #BHED #BHED2024 #DiversityInClinicalTrials #RoyalSocietyofMedicine

This Saturday, October 12th, is Black Health Equity Day (BHED) founded by @healforblackpeople —a pivotal moment to stand up, speak out, and call for action against the health disparities impacting Black communities. In the UK, Black communities face some of the poorest health outcomes, from higher maternal death rates to worse mental health and cancer diagnoses. This year’s theme is ‘Unity in Action: Elevating Black Health Equity Together,’ bringing together health professionals, policymakers, and communities to drive change. @healforblackpeople is marking the first Black Health Equity Day at the CAHN Black History Month Gala & Awards! Melanin Medics supports this day because we are committed to advocating for the well-being of Black people. Your voice makes a difference. Your actions matter. See more : @blackhealthequityday #blackhealthequityday #healthequity #blackhistorymonth #BHED2024 #BHED #jointhemovement #HEALforblackpeople #melaninmedic #blackdoctors

🌟 Celebrating Trailblazing Black Surgeons During Black History Month 🌟 This #BlackHistoryMonth, we honour the Black surgeons and Healthcare professionals who’ve broken barriers, transformed the surgical field, and paved the way for future generations. Their achievements remind us of the importance of diversity, resilience, and innovation in healthcare. Miss (Dr) Samantha Tross– The first Black female orthopaedic surgeon in the UK, Samantha Tross is highly respected for her skill in joint replacements and trauma surgery. She continues to inspire the next generation of Black women in surgery. Dr. Alexander T. Augusta – A true pioneer, Dr. Augusta was the first Black physician appointed to a leadership role in a U.S. hospital and the first African American commissioned as a regimental surgeon in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Dr. Ben Carson – A world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Carson became the first to successfully separate conjoined twins at the head. His ground-breaking work has left a lasting mark on paediatric neurosurgery and inspired countless aspiring surgeons. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE– As the first Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Professor Dunkley-Bent has had a transformative impact on maternal care. Her work in improving healthcare outcomes for mothers and children, especially in Black and ethnic minority communities, has been profound. MBE Professor Frank Chinegwundoh MBE– A leading UK urological surgeon and advocate for prostate cancer awareness, particularly among Black men, his work has been critical in reducing health disparities. These surgeons not only revolutionised medicine but also fought for equality and inclusion. Let’s continue their legacy by working toward a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable healthcare system. 💞 #BlackSurgeons #HealthcareInnovation #DiversityInMedicine