An HBCU Medical Graduate Making a Difference

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Hello everyone!

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It’s Dr. Lisa and I am sharing another amazing story of a physician who has an unwavering commitment to pediatric care and is a part of the Gambia Collaborative Project. Sharing her story and stories like hers with you during Black History Month is important because black physicians only make up 5.4% of the entire physician population in the U.S. and black female physicians only make up 2.8%.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Adayna Upchurch Burrows, a seasoned pediatrician and proud alumna of Howard University and Howard University Medical School, an institution renowned for its commitment to excellence, leadership, and social justice. In the past, physicians like Dr. Adayna Upchurch Burrows may not have been allowed to care for the disadvantaged, had it not been for HBCUs like Howard University. ?

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Today Howard is one of 4 HBCUs in the country that graduate black physicians (read more about the closure of 5 out of 7 black medical schools under the Flexner Report of 1910). Despite HBCUs making up only 2.3 of the total number of medical schools in the US, they produce 9.8 of Black medical school graduates. They help to provide access to black students who might not otherwise be given an opportunity, but also help close the gap in health disparities by training physicians who then go back to their communities and provide care to the underserved.

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We know that there are grave concerns about the physician shortage and access to care. A 2015 report by the National Institutes of Health estimated an “impending shortage of 33,000 primary care physicians by 2035. Black medical educators point out that black communities will bear the brunt of those shortages.” New HBCU medical schools were announced by Xavier University and Morgan State University to help close this gap. This will bring the total number of HBCU medical schools to six. For many students and communities, this will be a life-changing event. However, we still need to ensure that black medical students and residents are supported during their training and not subject to discrimination and overt racism as shared in this article.

?My Interview with Dr. Adayna Upchurch-Burrows

During our interview, Dr. Burrows talks about her time at Howard being instrumental in shaping her approach to medicine, instilling in her a deep understanding of the health disparities that plague underserved communities. As a student at Howard, Dr. Burrows states she was immersed in an environment that celebrated diversity and encouraged the pursuit of service to those in need. This experience laid the foundation for her unwavering commitment to pediatric care, particularly for children from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

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In her practice, Dr. Burrows goes beyond the traditional role of a pediatrician by addressing the complex social and environmental factors that affect her patients' health. She understands that to truly make a difference, one must look at the bigger picture of a child's life, including their family dynamics, access to nutritious food, and educational opportunities.

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Dr. Burrows’ dedication to serving low-income neighborhoods reflects her passion for pediatrics and her desire to empower communities. She recognizes that by providing compassionate and comprehensive care to children, she is not only treating their immediate health concerns but also contributing to a brighter future for the entire community.

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Her work is a shining example of how an HBCU alumni carries forward the mission to serve and uplift those who are most in need. Dr. Burrows’ efforts as a pediatrician in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas demonstrate her commitment to health equity and her resolve to ensure that every child can thrive, regardless of their background. She is now sharing that mission and passion across the globe in the Gambia.

We salute and acknowledge the 2% of black female physicians and honor, trailblazers like Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who in 1864 became the first African American woman physician to become a Doctor of Medicine in the US. With only 4% of black physicians representing the entire pool of physicians and the reality that underserved communities face with lack of access and health inequities, we must do better.

What is your organization committed to doing differently to address these concerns and improve patient outcomes? What changes have you made to your recruitment, retention, and succession planning for leadership that will increase your healthcare workforce?

Dr. Lisa Herbert is the Founder and CEO of Just The Right Balance LLC. Our mission is to help increase the number of diverse physicians in leadership roles by equipping them with the personal and professional development skills they need to succeed. A diverse leadership workforce creates the pipeline for future leaders and improves the delivery of care to the communities they serve here and abroad.

If you’re ready to take the steps to stop the great resignation happening across healthcare and in your institution, schedule your complimentary organizational consult here. Together, we can help you get clear on a strategy to build, support, and retain physician leaders.