resident Archives - The Race Card Project

There she sat, days on end.

September 8, 2021 Adam Cordum, resident

Adam Cordum,
Resident

There she sat, days on end. An older black woman full of a lifetime of stories, experiences, and moments of mistrust of the medical system. She sat, and spoke, and commanded attention with each breath. She sat, and waited, for the best place to take care of her recovery. She sat, but with her words and attitude stood tall and proud in the face of a system that had wronged her too many times.

What just happened was not okay.

September 8, 2021 microagressions, Morgan White, resident

Morgan White,
Resident

Whether it happens in a patient’s room or outside of it, it should be our responsibility as a department to call out/name when we see acts of racism or microaggressions because doing so builds a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Why won’t you get vaccinated?

September 8, 2021 Andre Biscaye, black patien, Covid, patient, resident, vaccine

Andre Biscaye,
Resident

It has been challenging trying to convince a lot of patients who express apprehension about the Covid vaccine to reconsider. When I talk with a Black patient, I wonder how the history of medicine and scientific research affects people’s thought processes and general distrust of this new medical intervention. I wonder if I have time to properly acknowledge this history or if doing so might be counterproductive to trying to get someone to trust me, a white male doctor.

Knock, knock and then you enter.

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 first experience, resident, Yusuf Abdullah

Yusuf Abdullah,
Resident

Wonder what they have been thinking. You break the silence and crack a smile. Introduce yourself first, and then you greet them. Tell them you are very pleased to meet them. And proceed with questions in a gentle style. Rinse, repeat, and continue the cycle.

This story is about the experiences of a physician of color as he goes through his day and meets patients. Sometimes he wonders if the patients he meets will judge him based on his color, ethnicity, appearance. I am certain that this is not a unique experience.