Throughout the month of February and in celebration of Black History Month, we are excited to feature—via the Macy Notes blog—the stories, experiences, and voices of learners who are underrepresented in the health professions. Spanning medicine and nursing, and representing various points in the continuum of education, these contributors share their reflections on how the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans in the health professions have affected their own personal and professional lives—and how they will carry this legacy forward. This year’s Black History Month theme is “African Americans and the Arts,” and so it is most fitting that we are able to share these thoughtful and powerful written reflections with the Macy community.
By Jessica M. Hippolyte, MD, MPH
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow
Children’s National Hospital
I remember reading Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” for the first time in college, and I recall the chills I felt when I spoke her words, “I am the dream and the hope of the slave.” I feel immense gratitude to the Black medical pioneers, past and present, who have transcended systemic barriers so I could achieve my dream of becoming a pediatric emergency medicine physician. In that same breath, I feel a sense of responsibility to my patients and the next generation of minority physicians to carry the legacy forward.
Black History Month is an opportunity to honor the achievements of African Americans and the African diaspora. However, I also believe it is a moment to raise awareness of the continued obstacles we face and strategize for our future. My patients’ experiences emphasize the role systemic discrimination and racial biases have in perpetuating health inequities. Additionally, as a Haitian American female trainee, I have heightened awareness that physicians from racial and ethnic minority groups remain underrepresented in medicine, and trainees continue to experience microaggressions, racism, and biases in the clinical environment. These health care injustices fuel my personal and professional mission to be a health equity advocate and empower me to mentor and promote inclusivity.
When I think of legacy, I envision a physician workforce mirroring the populations we serve, where all physicians practice inclusive and equitable health practices, and where health disparities no longer exist. Black History Month inspires my belief that our legacy can become our reality.