According to a study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, just 5 percent of practicing physicians are Black. However, as racial segregation gap within the medical field continues to broaden, it is exigent to produce more Black doctors that will know how to care for Black patients who often face negligence.
In this light, former New York City Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, has announced that he will make a $100 million donation through Bloomberg Philanthropies, stated in a press release. This will be circulated in the form of scholarships for students who are currently enrolled in medical programs at four HBCU medical schools that have been dastardly impacted by COVID-19.
“COVID-19 has been especially devastating for the Black community, and the scarcity of Black doctors practicing in Black communities is one reason for it,” Bloomberg said in a press statement.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative was created to increase generational wealth among Black families and this donation becomes the organization’s first investment.
In furtherance, Bloomberg also said:
“More Black doctors will mean more Black lives saved and fewer health problems that limit economic opportunity. But right now, the burden of student debt and lack of financial aid means that the shortage of Black doctors could get even worse. During my campaign for president, I proposed a set of bold policies—which we called the Greenwood Initiative—to increase generational wealth among Black families and shrink the racial wealth gap. The commitment Bloomberg Philanthropies is making today is just the first step we will take to bring that work to life.”
The beneficiary schools include Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Meharry Medical College. Specifically for Howard’s College of Medicine, the $32.8 million gift sums up to the largest donation that has been given to the school in history, according to Howard Newsroom.
