Michael Bloomberg Speaks at College of Medicine Ceremony

At the Howard University College of Medicine ceremony, former New York mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg spoke to the graduating class about the critical need for more Black doctors.

He noted how medical debt was often a large burden on Black families. “We found that Black patients are 34 percent more likely to receive preventative care measures when they are seen by Black doctors. But, while 13 percent of the U.S. population is Black, only 5 percent of doctors are Black.” He also discussed how medical school loans can also burden an aspiring Black doctor.

To combat the latter, last year, Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies made a $31.7 million gift to support scholarships for current Howard University College of Medicine students with financial need. The Bloomberg gift was the largest donation in the college’s history. He contributed $100 million to the nation’s four Black medical schools in total.