The 15WCs Volunteer

A Black physician-led group of change-makers that are helping the next generation of minority physician aspirants by providing visual inspiration and economic support with hopes of diversifying healthcare for marginalized communities.

The 15 White Coats is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Our organization is named after a photo of 15 African-American Tulane University School of Medicine students standing in front of a slave quarter at the Whitney plantation in Edgard, Louisiana. The intention behind taking this photo was to illustrate to the entire world, how far African-Americans have come historically with regard to healthcare, and our resilience to push past systemic barriers. Today, the organization is led by Russell J. Ledet, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Sydney Labat, M.D., Rachel Turner, M.D., and Brian Washington, Jr.

The mission of The 15 White Coats is to promote cultural imagery in learning spaces, provide economic support to minorities aspiring to be physicians, and to promote culturally-appropriate literature access in learning spaces.

All The 15 White Coats wants to do is

1. provide cultural imagery in the form of our iconic photos being placed in classrooms, learning spaces, and political buildings to illustrate how far African-Americans have come with regard to diversifying the medical profession.
2. utilize grassroots fundraising to economically assist historically marginalized individuals aspiring to enter into the medical field.
3. galvanize a keen interest in reading by placing books that are curated for cultural relevance in classrooms and learning spaces through Resilient Reader Book Club boxes.