Celebrating Black History Month by Honoring Black EM Physicians & Their Contributions to the Field of Emergency Medicine!
As we close out the celebration of Black History Month, the our EM Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team would like to take the time to celebrate and support all of the future Black leaders in Emergency Medicine. No matter where you are in your journey, we encourage you to follow your passion and do your best to make a mark on your community.
Thank you all for taking the time to help us celebrate these amazing Black leaders in Emergency Medicine!
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Uché Blackstock
For the last week in Black History Month, we are excited to celebrate Uché Blackstock, MD. Dr. Blackstock received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard University. She completed her emergency medicine residency at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Hospital, where she was a chief resident. She also completed a fellowship in EM Ultrasound at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. Dr. Blackstock held several leadership positions while working in academia at NYU School of Medicine including Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Faculty Director for Recruitment, Retention, and Inclusion in the Office of Diversity Affairs. In 2019, she left academia to focus her time on her organization Advancing Health Equity, for which she is the founder and CEO. Through her role in Advancing Health Equity, Dr. Blackstock is striving to eradicate racial health inequities.
Dr. Blackstock holds a special place in our hearts here at UHCMC as she was a guest speaker for our CLE Rising Series. We are lucky to have had such a strong and influential speaker give us tools to help combat racial inequities.
Thank you, Dr. Blackstock, for your contributions to Emergency Medicine and your dedication to shedding light on bias and racism in healthcare. You can read more about Dr. Blackstock and her work on AdvancingHealthEquity.com and follow her on Twitter at @uche_blackstock.
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Shanteria Dixon
Today we celebrate Shanteria Dixon, MD, MPH, FACEP, graduate of our residency’s Class of 2017 and former chief resident. Dr. Dixon is now the Assistant Medical Director of the Adult Emergency Services at St. Mary’s Medical Center, a Pediatric and Adult Level 1 Trauma Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is also a Clinical Affiliate Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine at the Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Dr. Dixon grew up in West Palm Beach and loves being able to serve her community. Prior to moving back home, she served as an attending physician in the emergency department at one of our UH community hospitals, Ahuja Medical Center, for two years and received our residency’s “Community Attending Teaching Award” in 2019. Throughout her time at UH, Dr. Dixon was an amazing physician, leader, friend, and role model, and her presence is still felt amongst our UH ED family. When asked what advice she would like to share with current and future UH EM residents, she said, “Treat every patient as if they were your loved one, and always be humble and kind. Our job is obviously very challenging. Some days are amazing and you feel like a Rockstar, some days you will want to find another profession. Keep in mind that what we do is very special, and it is truly a privilege and an honor to care for others.”
Thank you, Dr. Dixon, for the endless contributions you made to our program as a resident, chief, and attending and for the impact you had (and continue to have) on so many of us at UH.
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Leon Haley Jr.
Today for Black History Month we celebrate Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, MHSA, FACEP, CPE, who is the first Black emergency physician to become a Dean of a major university campus, University of Florida-Jacksonville College of Medicine, where he also serves as Vice President of Health Affairs for the university. Dr. Haley attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI. He also earned a Master of Health Service Administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Prior to his appointment as the Dean of UF College of Medicine, Dr. Haley also served as Executive Associate Dean for Emory University at Grady and Chief Medical Officer for the Emory Medical Care Foundation in Atlanta. He has held several other leadership positions in the field of emergency medicine.
Thank you, Dr. Haley, for your leadership and for helping to shape new leaders in Emergency Medicine. More information about Dr. Haley can be found at ACEP Now & UF Jacksonville Academic Matters. You can also follow Dr. Haley on Twitter - @UFJaxDeanHaley
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Steve Morgan
Today we celebrate Steve Morgan, MD, MS, another graduate of our residency program, class of 2019, as well as our EMS Fellowship. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and works at Baptist Memorial Hospital and Regional One Health Medical Center. In addition to his local community, he also serves in the U.S. Army. Dr. Morgan put his whole heart into his time at UH and says that his favorite memory was the love and support he felt from all of his co-residents and the program itself. When asked what advice he would most like to share with current and future EM residents, he said “explore areas of interest and try to find a niche in EM as this will best help you care for your patients and communities.”
Thank you, Dr. Morgan, for your contributions to our program and for your dedication to serving the community.
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Andrea Green
We are excited today to celebrate Andrea Green, MD, FACEP who has paved the way for Equity and Inclusion as the Chair of American College of Emergency Medicine Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity Section. Dr. Green attended medical school at the University of Iowa, graduated class of 1979, and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at Howard University. She has held many leadership roles during her career, including the past President of Texas College of Emergency Physicians from 2005-2006. She now works as a traveling emergency medicine physician so she can continue to teach about health equity and help transform each new department.
Thank you, Dr. Green, for everything you have done, not only for Emergency Medicine but for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. For more information, please visit ACEP.com
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Stephanie Gaines
Please join us in celebrating UH’s very own Stephanie Gaines, MD. Dr. Gaines joined the UH family in the 2009 as part of the inaugural class of our Emergency Medicine Residency. Upon graduating in 2012, she immediately became the Assistant Program Director and has served in this role ever since. She has given so much of her time, love and energy to make our University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency what it is today.
Her favorite contribution is being an amazing mentor to so many residents over the years and being able to share in their successes and see their growth. When asked what advice she would give to the current and possible future CMC EM residents, she said, “Although residency can be tough, remember to enjoy every moment, to take the good with the bad and embrace this short period in your life that will shape you into your future self.”
Thank you, Dr. Gaines, for your incredible contribution to Emergency Medicine by teaching, mentoring and giving your all to so many EM residents who are bound to influence the world.
Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. John R. Lumpkin - A Pioneer of EM
Today we celebrate John R. Lumpkin, MD, MPH, FACEP, FACME, FAAN, the first Black Emergency Medicine resident in 1976. Dr. Lumpkin completed his residency training at the University of Chicago, under Dr. Peter Rosen. He continued to advance the field of emergency medicine by serving as the director of Illinois Department of Public Health. He held many leadership positions in the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Emergency Physicians. He continues to advocate for justice and equity as the president of the BlueCross NC Foundation in North Carolina.
Thank you, Dr. Lumpkin, for paving the way for so many current and aspiring EM physicians and for your ongoing advocacy. More information about Dr. Lumpkin can be found on ACEPnow.com as well as on his Twitter page @jrlumpkin.
POSTS BY: DR. JENNY CAPREZ, PGY2
FACULTY EDITING BY: DR. LAUREN MCCAFFERTY