A Greensboro-based group of doctors is visiting a local elementary school Wednesday to encourage black male students to consider a career in heath care.
Male doctors from across the Greensboro area will meet with students at Wiley Elementary to tell them about their work for the event called Men's Doctor Day.
They're part of The Greensboro Medical Society, an organization of black doctors that dates back to the 1920s. Their goal is to help influence the next generation, in the hopes of having increased numbers of minority healthcare providers.
In 2014 fewer black male students applied to and enrolled in medical school than in 1978.
One of the doctors participating is nephrologist Alvin Powell.
“It's extremely important for young people, particularly young African-American males and females to realize that we exist," he says. "We don't have always positive role models portrayed, and it's important for the young folks to see us out there working, and that we're real. And that they can do what we're doing.”
The Greensboro Medical Society conducted Women's Doctor Day last December.
Ed. This post has been updated to include the name of the school.