Melanin Medics: lessons from a community-led organization addressing inequities in medical education

Inequities in health professions education, including differential attainment, racism, and barriers to widening participation, continue to disproportionately affect students from racially-minoritised and underrepresented backgrounds. While there has been a notable rise in institutional responses to racial inequity since 2020, namely the "Black Lives Matter" movement; institutional responses remain individualized, short-term, or deficit-focused. Responsibility to address inequity is often placed on learners within affected groups, rather than structural conditions that produce and sustain inequity. This Perspective article illustrates the development and evolution of Melanin Medics, a student-founded, community-led organization established in response to inequities experienced by Black medical students and doctors. It aims to critique how community-led approaches can contribute meaningfully to social justice and decolonizing efforts in health professions education. Drawing on organizational practice and reflective insight, the article will position Melanin Medics as a case example of how student-led movements can build social capital, affirm professional identities, and challenge inequitable structures. The article concludes by outlining practical implications and key lessons for health professions educators, institutions, and policymakers seeking to advance meaningful action on equity and inclusion.