Opening Doors: The Making of an African American Surgeon (November 11, 2009)

Dorian J. Wilson, M.D. (Associate Professor of Surgery; Director, General Surgery Residency Program; and Director, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Center for Humanism and Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey) shared his story in becoming a transplant surgeon and more humanistic physician through the inspirations of Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, Dr. Samuel L. Kountz and Dr. Rachel Remen to name a few. Dr. Wilson presented the importance of humanism, mindfulness, and ethics in medical education, the recruitment of minorities, and grooming humanistic doctors. Wendi El-Amin, M.D. (Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Assistant Dean for Medical Education, University of Virginia) discussed ways to strengthen "the pipeline" for recruiting and grooming doctors. Dr. El-Amin addressed some specific initiatives that have been employed by the University of Virginia School of Medicine such as the "Cells to Society" and "Appreciative Inquiry" programs.