Students, faculty and friends of UMass Chan Medical School gathered to celebrate African Diaspora Night in the Albert Sherman Center on Oct. 20. The event came together through the collaborative efforts of the UMass Chan chapter of the Student National Medical Association, the Diversity and Inclusion Office and the Department of Neurosurgery under the leadership of Mark Johnson, MD, PhD, the Maroun Semaan Chair in Neurosurgery, and chair and professor of neurosurgery.
Zakiya Carter, co-president of the UMass Chan chapter of the Student National Medical Association, said, “We, as students of the African diaspora, often are leaving our homes, families and countries to seek higher education only to be faced with speculation about our educational prowess and qualifications. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, there has been a shift throughout the nation and community to exclude people of African descent, but we strove to show that we as an institution stand together against discrimination and bigotry, and we are proud of our people.”
Carter also conveyed that the event was intended for everyone—those familiar with the African diaspora and those newly encountering it. The goal was to share the beauty, breadth and depth of African culture through fun, food and art.
The event was one of a number of activities planned by the UMass Chan chapter of the Student National Medical Association. Next up is a medical student panel in early December at which members of the executive board will share their journeys to medical school, the timeline for applications, the importance of research, volunteering and shadowing, and other external resources for prospective medical students. Members are also planning for the return of the Summer Learning Opportunity program next year, during which rising second-year medical students from historically underrepresented backgrounds participate in a clinical rotation and research experience. The Student National Medical Association supports the program in a number of ways, including putting on a suturing workshop and organizing social engagements to help participants build further connections to the Worcester community.
The Student National Medical Association supports current and future underrepresented medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians.
