The sparse linkage of African Americans as well as other minorities to medicine doesn’t need statistics to support it. The observable difference of minority presence in STEM comparative to the population is not only unrepresentative, but simply wrong. This trend is unimaginably complex, yet I know it becomes harmful when children who have the capacity to become great researchers, engineers, doctors, etc., have the misconception that all they can only be what society allows them to be.
To combat this societal trend, I have targeted the financial barriers that are highly correlated with minority students. Our ideology stands that the unfairness of life is fundamental and unchanging, yet by accepting oneself as a victim of this unfairness can only be harmful. Instead, embracing the challenge with the necessary mentality can only be the solution to ameliorating this generational injustice. I had the idea of creating an organization to help foster this mentality into inner-city students. Our team of doctors and researchers have fought through the same obstacle of financial hardship in order achieve their dreams. They will share their stories to students in hopes of motivating and inspiring.
Launched during the 2025 school year, the first year of this program is almost “testing the water”. After supplying presentations across Columbus City Schools, we will look forward to raising money as a non-profit to hopefully have demonstrations and cool interactives for the students who were particularly interested in following up after their specific presentations. This program can branch out in so many ways such as establishing a “Spread Medicine Club” in all schools for students who want to advocate for their community. I simply cannot wait to mould this program into the high potential it possesses.
As a fellow Ohioan and now undergraduate at Ohio State University, I want to make an impact in this community and hopefully plant the seed of curiosity and motivation for many future medical professionals.
Founder, Sohan Jayasekara