Joel Bervell, a Ghanaian-American medical student, has garnered significant recognition for his efforts to address racial disparities in healthcare. In 2024, he was honored by Forbes, being named to their prestigious “30 Under 30” list in the healthcare category.
Educational Background and Early Initiatives
Bervell graduated from Yale University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology. During his time at Yale, he was actively involved in student government and directed a mentorship program targeting low-income neighborhoods. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master’s in Medical Science from Boston University and worked as a clinical research assistant at Providence Hospital, focusing on treatment modalities for appendicitis.
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Advocacy and Social Media Influence
While attending Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Bervell began leveraging social media platforms to highlight and educate about racial biases in medical education and practice. His informative content, which dispels medical myths and addresses healthcare disparities, has earned him a substantial following, with over 800,000 followers and more than 140 million views across various platforms.
Recognitions and Contributions
Beyond the Forbes accolade, Bervell has been featured on major media outlets such as Good Morning America, NPR, and WebMD. He serves on several advisory boards, including the White House Office of Public Engagement’s Health Care Leaders in Social Media, the World Health Organization’s ‘Operation Fides,’ and The Atlantic’s Health Equity Advisory Board. Through these roles, he continues to advocate for equitable healthcare practices and works towards bridging communication gaps between underrepresented groups and healthcare organizations.
Bervell’s dedication to shedding light on and addressing systemic biases in healthcare has positioned him as a leading voice in the movement towards health equity.
