Black Men in Medicine

Matthew N. Anderson is a neurosurgeon, who trained at Brown University. He is interested in cerebrovascular neurosurgery, with a specific interest in interventional treatment of ischemic stroke and pediatric vascular malformations. Matthew is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He then went to Stanford University to complete his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. At Stanford, Matthew was president of the Stanford Black Pre-Medical Organization, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of African American doctors in medicine. After Stanford, he attended University of Connecticut for medical school where he was co-president of the Student National Medical Association for two years. Throughout his academic career, Matthew has been interested in learning ways to increase diversity in medicine through various mentoring and pipeline programs. 

During this episode, he explains how he got involved in medicine, and the unique challenges he has faced as black gay physician. He uncovers the impetus behind his passion for increasing diversity in medicine and the importance of self care to stay fueled on his mission. When Dr. Anderson is not performing clinical responsibilities, he enjoys reading, running, weightlifting, cycling, hiking, traveling and karaoke. To hear more about his story make sure you tune in to another Black Men in Medicine Podcast episode, bringing you nothing but the gems!

O. N. Ray Bignall II, MD, FAAP, FASN is Assistant Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He also serves as Director of Kidney Health Advocacy and Community Engagement for the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, Dr. Bignall completed his general pediatrics residency, clinical fellowship in nephrology, and NIH post-doctoral research fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

In this episode Dr. Bignall unveils his inspiration for becoming a physician, while elaborating on the difficult decision to go against his families dream for him, in quest for his own happiness. He touches on the impact of his Jamaican roots, and the importance of being a health advocate in underserved communities. Dr. Bignall provides tangible examples of how we can make strides on improving diversity in health care, all while dropping Gems on how wears so many hats and manages to preserve a work life balance. This is an episode you don't want to miss, make sure you tune in to another Black Men in Medicine Podcast episode, bringing you nothing but the gems! 

Dr. Emmanuel Boateng hails from Ghana, Africa. In this episode he shares the impact his parents had on his journey to medicine and what it means to be a first generation physician in his family. He discusses the resiliency needed to triumph hurdles in his journey and how that persistence landed him at Vanderbilt University to practice Internal Medicine. 

He provides detailed stories on what he had to overcome while starting residency in a pandemic, how he impacts the minority community and the importance of a work like balance. Tune in to learn more about Dr. Boateng and how to be successful accomplishing your goals, as we bring you nothing but the gems!