Addressing the Absence of Black Men in Medicine

There is a profound absence of Black men in medicine. Addressing this issue requires a concerted and holistic effort that includes learning from the current generation of medical students. This article summarizes three medical student perspectives presented as posters at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine inaugural workshop on the growing absence of Black men in medicine. These posters present perspectives from men of color each from one of the three historically Black medical colleges in the country. The authors provide narratives on the importance of early access to resources and adequate inter-generational mentorship in preparing Black men for a career in medicine. Popular culture is also discussed as a means of facilitating further engagement of premedical Black students. Black men interested in medicine face unique challenges in the United States, and initiatives to improve the declining matriculation rate into medical schools need to be well-designed, relevant, and facilitating of early mentorship.