Coalition of Black Men Physicians Launches Chapter at Charles R. Drew University
Less than 4% of physicians in the United States identify as Black or African American men.
For decades, that number has remained largely unchanged reflecting a persistent gap in representation across the medical profession. The Coalition of Black Men Physicians (CBMP) aims to change that statistic.
CBMP is a national network of Black male physicians committed to strengthening the medical pipeline and increasing the number of Black men in the health workforce. With established chapters at Howard University and now at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Black male medical students are organizing to build community, increase visibility, and create pathways for future physicians.
“We decided to establish a chapter at CDU because we wanted to make a difference in the community,” said Ayanle Nur, first-year medical student. “Through this effort, we’ve had opportunities to bring in physicians and residents to speak with us, engage in service projects, and establish our presence not just on campus, but throughout the community.”
Through initiatives focused on mentorship, scholarship, service, and professional development, the chapter is working to ensure that Black male students are supported at every stage of their journey into medicine.
One of the chapter’s campus-wide initiatives is King Wednesdays, held the first Wednesday of every month. The monthly gathering brings the CDU community together to highlight Black excellence, inspire leadership, and foster connection across disciplines.
“Our goal in making King Wednesdays a campus-wide initiative is to increase Black male visibility, retention, and leadership in higher education,” said Christopher Washington, second-year medical student. “Expanding this beyond the medical school allows CDU to lead in representation, inspire students across disciplines, and build a culture that affirms Black excellence campus-wide.”