Faces of Medicine shares the stories of some of the Black women who represent only ~2.8% of doctors in the US. The core footage consists of recorded live interviews of a diverse group of Black female physicians conducted by Dr. Khama Ennis. She bears witness as they share the stories of how they became doctors, who their allies were, how they cope with challenges and what they have learned. We hear in their own voices how they confronted the detracting forces that tried to undermine their dreams.
The film begins with Dr. Khama Ennis describing the life factors that led to the creation of this documentary. We then turn to L’Merchie Frazier, the director of education at the Museum of African American History in Boston who shares the story of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler’s path to becoming the first Black female physician in the US in 1864. Dr. Thea James, who was one of the first college graduates in her family, shares the story of her circuitous path to a career in emergency medicine. The story of Dr. Valerie Stone, illuminates the roadblocks that can be presented even from those who want the best for us. Inspired to pursue medicine after seeing her grandmother suffer from a biased health system leading to her untimely death she also had to defy the expectation from her family that she marry and become a homemaker. Dr. Rose Cesar immigrated to Boston from Haiti as a teen and attended medical school as a young wife and new mother. We also share the story of Dr. Lynnette Watkins, who pursued leadership after clinical work to become a hospital President and COO. As the daughter of a physician, she is a rare second generation Black ophthalmologist.
These stories are not usually highlighted in the tellings of medical achievements and need to be known. There are young Black and brown women who have never imagined that someone who looks like them could have the opportunity to pursue a career in medicine, much less that there is living proof around the corner. Through these stories, we aim to disrupt the notion of who can become a doctor and inspire the next generation of underrepresented doctors. These people and many more will have the opportunity to take a peak inside the lives of some of the people who may be their next doctor.
- Runtime00:49:54
- DirectorKhama Ennis
- ScreenwriterKhama Ennis
- ProducerMichael Tyner
- CastMaceo Carter, Maya Carter, Michelle Francis, Naishia Gray, Vanessa Jackson
Faces of Medicine shares the stories of some of the Black women who represent only ~2.8% of doctors in the US. The core footage consists of recorded live interviews of a diverse group of Black female physicians conducted by Dr. Khama Ennis. She bears witness as they share the stories of how they became doctors, who their allies were, how they cope with challenges and what they have learned. We hear in their own voices how they confronted the detracting forces that tried to undermine their dreams.
The film begins with Dr. Khama Ennis describing the life factors that led to the creation of this documentary. We then turn to L’Merchie Frazier, the director of education at the Museum of African American History in Boston who shares the story of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler’s path to becoming the first Black female physician in the US in 1864. Dr. Thea James, who was one of the first college graduates in her family, shares the story of her circuitous path to a career in emergency medicine. The story of Dr. Valerie Stone, illuminates the roadblocks that can be presented even from those who want the best for us. Inspired to pursue medicine after seeing her grandmother suffer from a biased health system leading to her untimely death she also had to defy the expectation from her family that she marry and become a homemaker. Dr. Rose Cesar immigrated to Boston from Haiti as a teen and attended medical school as a young wife and new mother. We also share the story of Dr. Lynnette Watkins, who pursued leadership after clinical work to become a hospital President and COO. As the daughter of a physician, she is a rare second generation Black ophthalmologist.
These stories are not usually highlighted in the tellings of medical achievements and need to be known. There are young Black and brown women who have never imagined that someone who looks like them could have the opportunity to pursue a career in medicine, much less that there is living proof around the corner. Through these stories, we aim to disrupt the notion of who can become a doctor and inspire the next generation of underrepresented doctors. These people and many more will have the opportunity to take a peak inside the lives of some of the people who may be their next doctor.
- Runtime00:49:54
- DirectorKhama Ennis
- ScreenwriterKhama Ennis
- ProducerMichael Tyner
- CastMaceo Carter, Maya Carter, Michelle Francis, Naishia Gray, Vanessa Jackson
