Midwestern University Hosts Black Men in White Coats Summit
Youth are encouraged to pursue healthcare careers
Dr. Wooten (third from right) served as the keynote speaker.
The Black Men in White Coats Summit was held for the first time at Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus on Saturday, February 10th, hosted by the Academic Medicine Consortium of Arizona (AMCA) to inspire students from all backgrounds to pursue healthcare careers. About 250 members of the community attended the event, including students from local elementary, middle, and high schools.
“This was a great opportunity for Midwestern University to expand awareness and foster cooperation in the diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical community,” said James Walter, M.P.A., Director of Admissions, Admissions, Glendale. “Midwestern has always been committed to expanding opportunities for everyone in the healthcare fields.”
The Summit featured keynote speaker Duane Wooten, M.D., P.C., a pediatrician at the Wooten Healthcare Group, who shared his journey with the attendees. Dr. Wooten’s notable accomplishments include applying to medical school at the age of 19 and receiving the Thomas Dooley Medal for Physician of the Year and the Calvin C. Goode-Martin-Luther King, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.
Several interactive sessions throughout the day offered participants a hands-on look at what different healthcare careers might be like. In the Surgical Skills session, attendees learned how to properly scrub, gown, glove, and handle sterile instruments. During the Patient Mock Exam, they learned about the stethoscope and other medical instruments, and participated in a partial patient mock exam. Attendees also learned how to modify ingredients in medications to tailor them to specific patient needs in the Pharmacy Compounding session. In the college and medical school preparation process, they discussed the key aspects of GPAs and choosing a major. Finally, the Black Men in White Coats Panel and the Black Women in White Coats Panel offered attendees the chance to hear doctors share their healthcare career paths and ask questions.
Midwestern University faculty and students recognized the importance of their role in inspiring Black youth to pursue healthcare fields in the future. Pharmacy student Lishan Liu (CPG ’26) said, “One of the most important things for Midwestern University is to help inspire and mentor young minds. I hope the attendees take away open-mindedness about each healthcare profession and find out what they’re interested in.” Lishan added, “By hosting this event, Midwestern University is letting the community know that they are an inclusive school, and they support diversity. It will encourage local students to learn more about healthcare professions and Midwestern University.”
Black Men in White Coats was founded in 2013 by Dale Okorodudu, M.D. with the mission of increasing the presence of Black men in the medical field. About 5.7 percent of professionals in the medical field are Black, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion is an important aspect of Midwestern University academics, clinical practice, and community. Midwestern University offers a variety of healthcare degrees and programs in Downers Grove and Glendale.
