AKRON, Ohio — The latest census shows there are about twice as many Black people in the U.S. compared to Asians. But when it comes to future doctors, the numbers are flipped.

What You Need To Know

  • Doctors and med-students from Akron helped inspire African-American students to go into the medical field 

  • This program allows Black students hands-on experience that could lead to a new career 

  • 200 Akron High School students attended 

The Future Healthcare Leaders' Summit looks to give Black students hands-on experience that could lead to a new career.

Dr. Charlie Brown never dreamed of becoming a doctor.

“I became passionate about the medical field in high school when we had a family circumstance where my father became ill," Brown said. 

But after a meeting a Black neurosurgeon who helped treat his ailing father, Brown opened his eyes to new possibilities.

“You can only see the world outside your window. So, when you have the opportunity to meet people that look like you, in a career that you previously didn’t think was something that was available to you, you can really just unlock an ability," Brown said. 

After studying pre-med at Indiana State University and attending medical school at Ohio University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, Brown has been a doctor for nine years. Now, he’s trying to give others like Nevaeh Keyes a similar chance.

“Well my mom, she was a home health aid, but like I actually want to be like in the field, like in the room,” Keyes said. 

Keyes was among 200 Akron High School students attending the second annual Future Healthcare Leaders’ Summit, an event put on by area hospitals and Akron Public Schools aimed at getting more Black students interested in medical school.

“I think the first part is building relationships with your area hospitals and clinics and health care organizations just so that one they can be aware that there’s an interest, and if so, the schools can foster those relationships," Brown said. 

The students getting hands on experience with everything from casting to taking blood pressure levels and even pretending to deliver newborns. And perhaps eventually turning this chance into a full-time job.

“I always wanted to be in the nursing field, and it’s just always something I wanted to do — something different in my family," Keyes said. 

The students attending the program were from Akron Public Schools' Garfield, Firestone, North and Buchtel high schools. 

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