Why Not You Academy Hosts First Annual Melanin in Medicine Event

In honor of Black History month, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH), the Morehouse School of Medicine(MSM), and Why Not You Academy (WNYA) came together for the first annual Melanin in Medicine celebration and educational event hosted by Build2Lead (B2L)! The event aimed to expose WNYA students to different healthcare career paths and introduce them to underrepresented mentors from that field.

VMFH team members and MSM, B2L, and the WNYA Black Student Union created an intentional agenda to guide the day. The event included performances by the Black Student Union and breakout sessions led by VMFH and MSM, with presentations on mental health wellness, career navigation, battling discrimination, and personal HBCU (Historically Black College & University) experiences.

Special thanks to all presenters, including Dianne Aroh, RN, VMFH SVP & Chief Nursing Officer; Dr. Ryan Pong, Division VP & Academic Officer; Meghan Frost, CommonSpirit VP Philanthropy Partnership & Campaigns, and over a dozen VMFH team members for helping to make the first annual Melanin in Medicine a success!

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