Hailed as “inspiring” by the Los Angeles Times, Crystal R. Emery’s documentary, “Black Women in Medicine,” premieres on the WORLD Channel on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m. and re-airs at 9:00 p.m. (Check local listings). The moving portrait captures the tenacious women who have succeeded against all odds in the male-dominated medical field. A timely film, the work serves as an answer to two separate incidents this fall during which airline crews seeking in-flight medical attention for passengers discounted that Black women offering help could be physicians, creating the viral hashtag “whatadoctorlookslike.” The film is presented by series distributor American Public Television (APT).
Airing during Black History Month, “Black Women in Medicine” showcases rarely seen documentation of Black women practicing medicine during critical operations, emergency room urgent care and community wellness sessions. From Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman to receive a degree in medicine in 1864, to current-day trailblazers like Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first African-American U.S. Surgeon General, and Dr. Jennifer Ellis, one of only six black female Cardiothoracic surgeons in America, the film demonstrates the heights to which one can reach with determination.
Written, directed and produced by Emery, “Black Women in Medicine” is part of the filmmaker’s groundbreaking initiative to help increase the number of Black doctors in the United States from 4.5 percent in 2016 to 7 percent by 2030. To that end, in 2016, Emery launched a national campaign, “Changing the Face of Medicine,” together with Elders.
“We all must challenge the status quo by replacing the false and debasing historical narrative regarding race, ethnicity and gender with positive, empowering images of real women making a difference,” says Emery. “My goal with Black Women in Medicine is to illuminate the issues and inspire a new generation of women of color to become doctors, as well as to help build a legacy for increasing access to healthcare in minority communities across the United States.”
Emery herself has triumphed over two chronic diseases as a quadriplegic to become an outspoken voice on the intersection between race, gender and disability. She is the founder and CEO of URU, The Right to Be, Inc., a non-profit content production company that tackles social issues via film, theatre, publishing and other arts-based initiatives. Emery’s work has been recognized by the Congressional Black Caucus with the Health Brain Trust Award in Journalism. She is the author of “Against All Odds: Celebrating Black Women in Medicine,” an illustrated coffee-table book profiling more than 100 spectacular physicians and a companion piece to the film.
Watch a trailer for the documentary below:
