ATSU hosts 2025 Black Men in White Coats Summit in Mesa
Posted: February 11, 2025
A.T. Still University hosted the second annual Black Men in White Coats Summit on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, themed “Rhythm and Resilience: The Doctor’s Mixtape,” bringing together K-12 students, families, and community members to explore healthcare careers in an interactive setting designed to spark interest and cultivate future healthcare leaders.
Held on the University’s Mesa, Arizona, campus, in partnership with the Academic Medical Consortium of Arizona (AMCA), the summit featured panel discussions with healthcare professionals, hands-on simulation labs, and opportunities for attendees to explore college exhibits and connect with professionals in the field.
Black Men in White Coats was established in 2013 and seeks to increase the number of Black men leading in the field of medicine through exposure, inspiration, and mentoring. Despite the growing need for diverse healthcare providers, Black men remain underrepresented in the medical field, making up less than 3% of physicians in the United States.
Committed to tackling this imbalance, Black Men in White Coats works collaboratively with universities and HBCUs nationwide to demonstrate that a career in healthcare is both achievable and rewarding.
“Representation is powerful, and events like these help pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in healthcare,” said Brian Castillo-Murillo, coordinator, ATSU Diversity & Inclusion, and an organizer of this year’s event. “ATSU was honored to host the summit, providing students from historically underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to explore, dream, and pursue careers in medicine.”
With over 700 registrants, this year’s summit had a variety of experiences for attendees of every age.
After welcomes from Clinton Normore, MBA, chief diversity officer, ATSU, and Francisco Lucio, JD, senior associate dean, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, attendees had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Nafis Shamsid-Deen, MD, FCCP, assistant professor and graduate medical education director for Diversity, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Themed workshops, including “Feel the Beat: Kids Clinic & Science Lab,” “Anatomy Remixed: The HaloLens VR Experience,” “Find Your Groove: Diversity in Dentistry,” and “Healing Harmonies: Stop the Bleed,” provided students of all grade levels with engaging, interactive introductions to the healthcare sciences.
Check out more photos from the summit below!
