“The road to becoming a doctor is a long and often bumpy one for everyone. Having a community to support a student and provide guidance can make the difference between wearing a white coat and giving up on that dream,” said Brit Anderson, a physician in UofL’s Department of Pediatrics. “Students who do not have family and friends in the medical field may miss out on this supportive medical community.”

Anderson, along with V. Faye Jones, associate vice president for health affairs – diversity initiatives at the Health Sciences Center and vice chair of inclusive excellence in the Department of Pediatrics, teamed up with Leondra Gully, advisor for the Woodford R. Porter Scholarship Program, to create the new initiative.

The program is aimed at , a scholarship program for exceptional undergraduate students of color from Kentucky and neighboring Indiana counties. First-year students through seniors interested in health care go through an application process to take part in the niche Porter Scholars in Medicine Program, now in its second year.  

Students receive mentoring and shadowing experiences from UofL physicians, and are also able to participate in clinical experiences including simulation and ultrasound. They learn about the medical school application process and entrance exam, gain insight related to the history of medical disparities in underrepresented communities and connect with students in UofL’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association. The program also hosts book clubs and discussions.

“I don’t think people realize the value of this program; there were no specific programs for Black and Brown students wanting to go into medicine. This a welcome space, and a different feeling of support – it’s what we need,” said Hayley Benson, a biology major and one of 17 students participating in this year’s Porter Scholars in Medicine program.

Diversifying the medical field

Gully says the program not only supports students interested in becoming physicians, but the ultimate outcome is far reaching – to diversify the medical field.

“We know from life experiences and the literature more diverse doctors are needed,” she said. “Diversity in the medical field has been proven to impact health disparities for marginalized communities and goes a long way in helping those communities receive equitable health care and improve patient outcomes.”

Senior Diane Appiasie can relate. She says her interest in medicine stems from the impact of health care providers throughout her life, and the aspiration to provide the same quality of care for others.

“I have been further driven to pursue a career in the medical field by a desire to continue advocating for health equity as a health care professional,” says Appiasie, who hopes to focus on a career in emergency medicine and neurology.

One future goal of the program is to engage students in off-campus experiences. Gully and her team are working to coordinate an opportunity this fall for Porter Scholars to see a live surgery through the Kentucky Science Center Pulse of Surgery program. Organizers also hope to explore ways to eventually secure funding for students who want to attend medical school.

“We know this program can be impactful, and we’re excited to see it grow,” Anderson said. “It is such an honor to work with this team and meet these wonderful students as we strive to advance health equity in our community.”

Ben Anderson, who graduated from UofL in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, was awarded a 2022 . Cornelius Sanford, who graduated from UofL in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and pan-African studies, won a 2022 Charles B.ĚýRangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship.

“It is tremendously exciting for UofL to have even one recipient selected for either of these prestigious fellowships,” said Bethany Smith of UofL’s Office of National and International Scholarships. “To have two in a single year is unprecedented. Congratulations to Ben and Cornelius, who will both go on to fulfilling careers in the Foreign Service.”

Previously, only one UofL graduate had won a Pickering Fellowship (Ashley Gray, 2005), and one a Rangel Fellowship (Zerlina Bartholomew, 2019).

The sibling programs are aimed at attracting individuals “from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career” with the state department.

The difference in the programs — both of which are worth up to $42,000 a year for recipients to earn a two-year master’s degree — is primarily in the focus of their domestic internship component. Pickering Fellows intern at the state department in Washington, D.C., while Rangel Fellows intern on Capitol Hill focusing on Congress’ role in foreign policy.

Anderson, a Louisville native, won a Fulbright English Teaching Grant to Taiwan in 2019 and is the son of two UofL English department faculty members, Karen Chandler and David Anderson. He plans to study public policy.

Sanford, of Eminence, Kentucky, graduated from UofL in 2019. Afterward, he held two internships in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, he is a who served as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language Educator in rural Madagascar. He hopes to pursue international affairs and diplomacy in his graduate studies, focusing on .

Among their numerous accomplishments, both were fellows of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) program at University of California, Berkeley. Anderson was a UofL Brown Fellow, a Woodford R. Porter Scholar and a Muhammad Ali Scholar. Sanford was a Martin Luther King Scholar.

The state department represents the U.S. at more than 270 diplomatic locations around the world, including embassies, consulates and missions to international organizations.

The conference, which includes numerous workshops and a banquet and brunch, will focus this year on the theme “Elevating the Health and Safety of the Black Family and Community.” 

The Feb. 23 keynote speaker is Melissa Harris-Perry, the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University, former host of the MSNBC show “Melissa Harris-Perry” and former editor of Elle.com.

The Feb. 24 brunch keynote speaker is Sybrina Fulton, who has dedicated her life to transforming family tragedy into social change following the death of her 17-year-old son Trayvon Martin in 2012. Last year, Fulton released “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin,” the book she co-authored with Tracy Martin that shares the story of her son’s life and death and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dr. Joseph McMillan, a University of Louisville administrator for 30 years and a community activist, founded the conference, which was renamed in his honor in 2010.

 for a full schedule of events.Ěý is required in advance and must be completed by Feb. 12. There will be no on-site registration. Registration for the full conference is $200. Tickets for individual days are $125. Reduced registration rates are available for students. Banquet and brunch tables may be purchased as well.  

Music, theater and more

The School of Music’s 22^nd annual African American Music Heritage Institute is on Feb. 5, featuring clinics, lectures, workshops and performances.

At 8 p.m., , a group that celebrates diversity through chamber music theater, will present the program The program features actress Shayla Simmons and a trio of cello, piano and percussion players honoring the lives of four significant African American women: ex-slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, folk artist Clementine Hunter and civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. The text is by Kim Hines, and the musical score is drawn from the spirituals of the Deep South, the urban exuberance of the Jazz Age and concert music by African American composers including Diane Monroe.

Other institute events include a workshop presentation for area students and their instructors at 10 a.m. and an informal question-and-answer session with performers at 3 p.m. All events are in Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music, 2301 S. Third St.

On each February Sunday from 3-6 p.m., the Louisville Free Public Library, in partnership with the Health Sciences Center UofL Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will host the .Ěý

The series opens Feb. 4 with “Marshall,” followed by “Hidden Figures” on Feb. 11; “42: The Jackie Robinson Stories,” Feb. 18; and “Loving” on Feb. 24. All of the films will be followed by a discussion led by UofL faculty.Ěý

The University of Louisville-Yearlings Club spring forum series will include the Black History Month program, “The Art of Protest through Cultural Expression,” on Feb. 11 from 4-6 p.m. UofL faculty panelists will include Baron Kelly, head of acting; Johnnie Jones, African American Theater Program director; and Michael Brandon McCormack, Pan-African studies assistant professor.

The UofL College of Arts and Sciences’ international, diversity and engagement programs office hosts the free, public forums in partnership with the Yearlings at the civic club’s 4309 W. Broadway location.

On Feb. 13 from 5-7 p.m., UofL’s Porter Scholars will gather for a game night centered on black history. The event, at the Cultural Center, also includes cultural food, games and black history-themed prizes.

From Feb. 23 through March 4, the African American Theatre Program presents “.” Directed by Jacqueline Thompson, “Fabulation” is a social satire about an ambitious, haughty African-American woman, Undine Barnes Calles, whose husband suddenly disappears after embezzling all of her money. Pregnant and on the brink of social and financial ruin, Undine retreats to her childhood home in Brooklyn’s Walt Whitman projects, only to discover that she must cope with a crude new reality. Undine faces the challenge of transforming her setbacks into small victories in a battle for self-affirmation. Written by Lynn Nottage, “Fabulation” is a comeuppance tale with a comic twist.

The play starts at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24 and at 3 p.m. Feb. 25. It resumes at 8 p.m. March 1-3 and at 3 p.m. March 4 in the Thrust Theatre Studio Arts Building, 2314 South Floyd St.

Acclaimed saxophone player will headline the University of Louisville School of Music’s 26^th annual Feb. 22-24. Jazz Fest brings jazz music’s most celebrated names to Louisville for concerts, workshops and master classes to honor America’s indigenous music.Ěý

Evans, who plays tenor and soprano saxophones, was a member of the Miles Davis group in the 1980s and the fusion band Elements. He has recorded 17 solo albums and received two Grammy Award nominations. He will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 24

Nightly concerts are in Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music, 2301 S. Third St. Performances are $20 for general admission and student tickets are $5 with a valid student ID, unless otherwise noted. Tickets can be purchased in the School of Music lobby. For more information or a full schedule of events, call 502-852-6907 or visit .Ěý