Two members of the school’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) share their thoughts for Black History Month in the Q&As below.
The SNMA is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.
Ka’Derricka Davis, MPH
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Ka’Derricka Davis, and I am a Black woman from the West side of Chicago, who is a first year medical student. I am a non-traditional student working in clinical research for about six years before matriculating into medical school. I am the daughter of Kathy Davis, the daughter of Katherine Ellis, the daughter of Lorine McDowell.
Considering Black History Month, what does your heritage mean to you?
Heritage means legacy, representation, and pride. It means generations of hard work and dedication. It means standing in truth, educating, and being the change you want to see.
What do you hope we learn from history as we build our future in regard to this month’s celebration?
I hope that we learn that Black History is American History. I hope that we can learn from the fact that there are some unpleasant truths that must not be ignored but understood in order to create equitable healthcare.
Did your heritage influence your decision to pursue your current degree/career path?
Yes, [my heritage influenced my decision to pursue this career as] there is a known mistrust between the healthcare system and African American people. That is for valid reason with American medical history known for using enslaved people used inhumanely to practice medical procedures. Or having necessary medication being withheld during the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Or Henrietta Lacks’ cells being taken without permission and used globally to develop groundbreaking medications while her descendants lived without health insurance until recently. Or the continued health inequities that cause many Black Americans to not have adequate access to quality care. I want my education and presence in medicine to help decrease and eventually eradicate those disparities, community by community.
What is a project that you’re working on that you’re excited about?
I am working on programming as President of the Student National Medical Association, an organization that focuses on creating community for underrepresented minorities (URM) in medicine and highlighting and addressing health disparities. Some major events are during Black History Month, including service, education, and bringing awareness to health inequities. One major event we will have is a panel of Black physicians and educators from UW talking about their journeys and allowing students an opportunity to learn from them and network.
Where have you found a sense of community within your program, at UW, or in Madison?
I have found a community at the Office of Multicultural Affairs for Health Professions Learners and within the Student National Association of Medical (SNMA). I am able to connect with faculty, staff, and peers that are of similar backgrounds and have similar goals. Both have been spaces I look forward to going to execute ideas or even go to after a long day of class to chat, grab a bite to eat, or vent.
Emmanuel Ebirim
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Emmanuel Ebirim, and I’m from Crystal Lake, IL. My family is Nigerian and both my parents immigrated from Nigeria to America before I was born. I went to college at Washington University in St. Louis and while I was there I was a five-year varsity football player at the position of running back.
Additionally, I majored in cognitive neuroscience and was an on-campus volunteer as a part of a club called E.S.T (Emergency Service Team).
My goal is to be a surgeon and help other athletes recover from injuries just as I was helped.
Considering Black History Month, what does your heritage mean to you?
Heritage to me is a source of pride. It connects me to all the generations before me and pushes me to expand on the legacies of those who have fought hard to allow me to live the type of life I live and pursue my dreams to the fullest.
What do you hope we learn from history as we build our future in regard to this month’s celebration?
I hope that we as a community can learn from history that improvement is incremental and it is our duty as the current generation to continue to fight for improvements for the future generations to come.
Did your heritage influence your decision to pursue your current degree/career path?
I grew up with a father who was a doctor. Later on in life, I began to understand how lucky I was to have a medical professional who understood and cared about the differing presentation of certain illnesses on a non-white individual. This strengthened my decision to pursue medicine so that I could be part of closing that gap between the number of white and non-white doctors here in the U.S.
What is a project that you’re working on that you’re excited about?
I am a volunteer at MEDiC, which is a student-led organization that runs four free health clinics, and partners with three other free clinics, throughout the Madison area. MEDiC aims to improve the health of the underserved in the Madison area while also enhancing the education of University of Wisconsin–Madison students.
Where have you found a sense of community within your program, at UW, or in Madison?
I have found a great sense of community within our school’s chapter of SNMA, the Student National Medical Association. It is a great group of people focused on supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.