June 2021 • DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL 3
students has lagged behind, particularly
in males. Dr. Dale Okorodudu, a pulmonary
and critical care specialist in Dallas,
founded Black Men in White Coats, an
organization whose mission is to increase
the number of Black men in the field of
medicine. He notes that the number of
Black males entering medical school has
not increased in 40 years, and that while
African Americans make up 13% of the
U.S. population, only 4-5% of active physicians
are Black. A 2018 study showed
that Black men are significantly more likely
to agree to preventive medicine services
and are more likely to talk openly about
their health and other issues if they have
Black doctors. Only 33% of active Texas
physicians are female, compared with 36%
in the U.S. It’s encouraging that women
now make up just over 50% of entering
medical students. While there has been a
gradual increase, women still account for
only 18% of department chairs, and there
remains significant underrepresentation of
certain racial and ethnic minority groups in
medical school faculty positions. Mentoring
and encouraging the youth of today,
showing them examples of women and
people of color who are open to discussing
their journey, will foster interest in the field
of medicine. There is a lot of work to be
done, but I am encouraged that there are
many fine medical students and residents
in our midst who will push for changes to
the status quo.
As has been the tradition for the last
40 years, the president of the DCMS has
the honor of administering the physician’s
oath to the graduating seniors at UTSW. As
a prior recipient, I have also been asked
to present the Ho Din award, given by
the Southwestern Medical Foundation, at
commencement. The Ho Din award, which
is unique to UT Southwestern, is given to
a senior medical student who exemplifies
“the unique personal qualities embodied in
all great physicians – knowledge, understanding,
and compassion.”
I recently met with Dr. Natasha
Houshmand, graduating senior, who is
this year’s outstanding Ho Din recipient.
We discussed the path to medical school,
the excellent education we both received
at UTSW, and the future of medicine.
Her class of 2021 has had its education
interrupted by COVID-19, but she feels the
experience has created a unique and close
bond among her classmates. When asked
what words of wisdom I would give her as
she sets forth into a career in medicine,
I said to remember that the textbook
answer to a patient’s problem is not the
entire solution. One must also address the
patient’s circumstances and understand
how both the problem and the solution
will impact the patient and their families.
A good physician also listens to patients
as they express their hopes and fears and
acts as their trusted advisor. I strongly
believe that knowledge, understanding,
and compassion are equally necessary
in caring for patients and in caring for
communities.
In the coming years, we can look forward
to advancements in addressing social
determinants of health and the disparities
that plague our health care system. We
will also see innovative ideas and further
growth of DCMS. I am excited for these
brilliant future physicians to join us in
our commitment to improve health care.
Twenty-five years from now, I am confident
we can all look back and see the positive
difference they helped to create. DMJ
A 2018 study showed
that Black men are
significantly more likely
to agree to preventive
medicine services and
are more likely to talk
openly about their health
and other issues if they
have Black doctors.
/leadershipdevelopment
