URM Scholarship Recipients
Black Girl White Coat is proud to introduce you to the five recipients of our 3rd Annual Representation Matters: Underrepresented Minority Student Scholarship!
Chisom
Hi! My name is Chisom. I am a senior biology major at Howard University with a passion for medicine. More specifically I desire to serve in a low-income community.
10 years from now, I envision owning my own clinic. My initial exposure to medicine in my home country, Nigeria was not a pleasant one. Now as the years have gone by, I see the impactful contributions I can make in my own little way. I am not exactly sure what specialty I will pursue, regardless of the type of physician I become, I hope to be one whose service is with passion and dedication.
Knowing that my service as a physician is not only unto man but unto God. Black Girl White Coat (BGWC) has been a big help as this journey is an expensive one. Aside from financial assistance, this organization is an encouragement to me in reference to the contributions I can make even while in medical school. In summation, it is a privilege to be awarded this scholarship and I hope along my journey that I too will bring relief whether financially, academically or in some form to other premed students like myself. Thank you all so much!
Daniella
My name is Daniella Andre and I am a junior majoring in Health Education and Behavior with specialization in Health studies on the pre-medical track at the University of Florida. I aspire to go to medical school to become a dermatologist, and
I hope to bridge the gap between the severe lack of training/research on skin of color and health care delivery in the dermatology field. In addition, being a Haitian-American black woman has inspired me to give back to my community and become empowered by my narrative—not defeated by it. My passion for eliminating health disparities goes beyond the United States; one of my goals is to become a leader by opening a clinic in Haiti where I can provide free high quality medical services.
As a future medical professional, I hope to utilize my knowledge and skills to create an educated culture on the prevention of diseases, promote wellbeing, and foster a positive change in healthcare infrastructure.
Black Girl White Coat has provided me a sense of unity and solidarity in a network of black women in the medical field, where I feel more equipped to enter my future career. Through this organization, I have gained profound knowledge about the realities of being a black medical student: the ups and downs, and advice on how to navigate medical school while staying resilient.
Denee
I was born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx. I believe that my culture and community has shaped me into the woman that I am today.
As modestly as we lived at home, I never felt poor because our lives were rich with literature, music, and exploration. Through these mediums, I developed a love for art and discovered its connection to healing our bodies and minds. As far back as I could remember, I knew I would become a doctor. Even at a young age I somehow knew that medicine would be a space where I could nurture my creativity, curiosity, and compassion. Although my path to becoming a doctor is quite unwieldy, I am thankful for the growth and the connections I have made along my path.
I am grateful for organizations like Black Girl White Coat who have motivated and inspired me to keep going despite the obstacles because my course has a final stop, and the view at the end is beautiful.
Emilie
My name is Emilie! I am a sophomore currently attending Loyola University Chicago majoring in biology.
I have an immense passion for fighting against racism, discrimination, and social disparities within healthcare. My goal is to become a doctor and foster trust and safe spaces for people—especially for those of color.
Thus far, BGWC’s YouTube videos have informed me a lot about what it’s like to be a black person and woman entering the medical field. I am thankful to have been provided this resource and I hope to give back to others soon.
Layan
Layan Ibrahim was born in Maryland and has lived in Maryland, Ethiopia, and Kenya before attending Emory University. She recently graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB), and is hoping to pursue an MD-PhD in the future, with a focus on conducting research on ways to reduce the gap in racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, with a concentration on neurological disorders.
As a first generation Black Muslim- American woman, Layan wants to inspire young students who are underrepresented in the medical field to pursue careers in STEM fields and to be educators, leaders, and rule-makers. Outside of science and medicine, some of her interests include: travel, mentorship, writing, photography, education, YouTube, and playing basketball.
Layan is very grateful that she is one of the recipients of the BGWC 2020 URM Student Scholarship, and it will help her further progress on her goal of becoming a physician-scientist and studying health disparities.
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