"The first time I met a Black female doctor was in my last year of med school."

- Khama Ennis, MD, MPH

Faces of Medicine is a project centered on the paths of Black female physicians in the United States. The documentary series starts with recognition of the trailblazing work of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who in 1864 became the first Black female to earn an MD in the United States. We explore the journeys of Black women practicing medicine today as captured in live interviews. The book will expose readers to even more details about each doctor.

We are sharing the stories of how we came to choose careers in medicine, made it through challenges along the way and celebrated successes. Some of these doctors are first generation college graduates and others are second generation physicians. Some immigrated to the U.S. as children while others can trace 200 years of ancestry in the deep south. Their journeys will be woven into a quilt representing unheard voices and untold stories.

The hope is that any Black girl or woman can find themselves in our stories and know what is possible. All viewers will gain a better appreciation of what doctors of color experience. Those who are interested in improving health equity will see perspectives they may not otherwise be able to access. Anyone who interacts with healthcare providers — which is to say, all of us — will have an opportunity to shift their bias.