The first observance of Black History Month took place at Kent State University in 1970, six years before it became a nationally recognized celebration. It is very fitting that such a significant aspect of modern American culture was conceived at a public research university, undoubtedly cultivated by the institution’s unique synergy of intellectual thought, community outreach and diverse life experiences.

As the only public medical school in Orange County, the UCI School of Medicine aims to embody the spirit of Black History Month by promoting academic excellence and health equity for the betterment of African, Black and Caribbean communities.

Charles R. Drew, MD.     Photo courtesy of Moorland-Spingarn      Research Center

One name that is instantly synonymous with Black history and medicine is Charles R. Drew, MD. Dr. Drew developed groundbreaking methods of long-term blood storage and transfusions that saved countless lives during World War II, paving the way for the creation of “bloodmobiles” and numerous other modern-day healthcare practices and procedures. Learn more

As we think of history not only in terms of the past, but also in terms of the legacy that we are always writing for the future, we commend our colleagues in the School of Medicine who integrate their identities and experiences with their professional pursuits.

Yannick Fotio, PharmD, PhD

One shining example is Yannick Fotio, PharmD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow working in Dr. Piomelli’s lab in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology.

Born in rural Cameroon, Dr. Fotio received a presidential fellowship to attend college in his native country and eventually obtained an additional government fellowship to pursue graduate studies in Italy. Learn more


Dr. Jonathan Collins is a noted researcher, founder and director of the Brown University PAVED Research Initiative aimed at empowering minority communities. He once said that the tradition and celebration of Black History Month has always included “the college student being at the forefront of disseminating this message that Black is beautiful.”

Cassandra Smith and Helen Leka Photo by Noah Red

We applaud Cassandra Smith and Helen Leka for continuing this history of Black student advocacy. Both are second-year medical student scholars in our groundbreaking Program in Medical Education Leadership Education to Advance Diversity: African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC). Learn more

We have no doubt that Cassandra and Helen will continue to write new chapters in the history books that create a more equitable and healthy future for their communities.

We would be remiss to mention the accomplishments of our PRIME LEAD-ABC scholars without also mentioning the ongoing impact that PRIME LEAD-ABC Program Co-Director Candice Taylor Lucas, MD, MPH, has etched in the UCI community.

Candice Taylor Lucas, MD, MPH Photo by Josh Zieve

Since its inception in 2018, PRIME LEAD-ABC has fostered a significant increase in the enrollment of Black medical students and others who are committed to social justice and advocacy within African, Black and Caribbean communities.

Dr. Taylor Lucas has been perennially praised for her mentorship, willingness to engage in thought-provoking conversations about inclusivity and unwavering emphasis on an interdisciplinary philosophy toward medical care.
Learn more

Lastly, we invite you to join the UCI community on February 23^rd at 2 p.m. as Crystal Lynn Webster, PhD delivers the Black History Month lecture entitled, “History and Legacy of Black Childhood in America.”

Dr. Webster is a faculty member at the University of British Columbia and author of Beyond the Boundaries of Childhood: African American Children in the Antebellum North (2021). The lecture will be delivered via Zoom and we invite you to attend.

At the School of Medicine, we will continue to build upon the vision for Black History Month by creating and bolstering educational environments, clinical care and research efforts that strive to achieve health equity for African, Black and Caribbean communities. We aim to be an institution where all people can thrive, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for our entire community, including students, faculty, staff and the patients we serve.

These efforts are an integral part of our mission to: Discover. Teach. Heal.

Sincerely,

Ursula Worsham, EdD
Assistant Dean and Diversity Officer
Office of Belonging, Equity, and Empowerment

School of Medicine Equity Advisors:
Munjal Acharya, PhD – Associate Professor, Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Radiation Oncology
Lisa Flanagan, PhD – Professor, Department of Neurology
Uma Rao, MBBS – Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Gelareh Sadigh, MD – Associate Professor In-Residence, Department of Radiological Sciences

With additional contributions from:
Carol Major, MD, Assistant Dean for Student Inclusive Excellence and
Co-Director, PRIME LEAD-ABC
Charles Vega, MD, Assistant Dean for Culture and Community Education and
Director, PRIME-LC
Xavier Hernandez, PhD, Diversity Education Officer