Dr. Ashley Patterson, founder of Phoenix Medical Center, has wanted a career in medicine for as long as she can remember.
Although she had no immediate family members in medicine, her positive experiences with her pediatrician and her innate interest in science and caring for others set her on this path.
It wasn’t until college, however, that she encountered a devastating and motivating force, the concept of health disparities.
“It just blew my mind and devastated me… that happens to Black people all the time,” she recalls.
This realization fueled her commitment to medicine, pushing her to focus on preventative care to address chronic illnesses disproportionately affecting the Black community.
Patterson’s journey is a vivid example of a profound national challenge.Black Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population, but only 7% of U.S. medical students are Black. Among those students, 61% are women. For aspiring Black women physicians, the path to medicine is often steep, shaped by systemic barriers, financial hurdles and a lack of visible role models.
In Houston, community leaders and healthcare executives are working to change those barriers by widening access to education, increasing mentorship opportunities and ensuring representation in medical spaces where Black women have historically been underrepresented.
Wanda Harris, senior vice president and Houston market president at VillageMD, has spent over 25 years in the healthcare industry. She sees the lack of Black women in medicine as a problem that starts long before medical school.
“In elementary and high school, the first barrier is visibility,” Harris says. “If you don’t see people who look like you in medicine, you’re less likely to picture yourself there.”
She points to under-resourced schools, limited access to advanced STEM courses and standardized testing as obstacles that can discourage young students early on.
When students reach college or consider medical school, costs and admissions criteria can narrow the field even further. The price of medical education can easily exceed $200,000 and admissions processes often give weight to factors such as legacy connections or expensive prep resources that many first-generation students lack.
Harris believes the solution must start earlier. Through her non-profit Porter Billups Leadership Academy, she connects fourth graders through high school seniors with hands-on STEM experiences, hospital visits and mentorship from healthcare professionals who share their cultural backgrounds.
“They need to see people who look like them in these roles,” she says.
This lack of visible role models was a significant challenge for Patterson. She had to seek out resources specifically for students of color. This led her to the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) in undergrad.
Through MAPS, she met a Black pediatrician who became her mentor, helping her navigate the complex prerequisites and application process.
“I was in her office off and on for eight years,” Patterson says, highlighting the sustained guidance she received.
Representation and trust in patient care
Dr. Lutricia Harrison, president of Houston Community College (HCC) Coleman College for Health Sciences, works at the point where students are deciding how to enter the healthcare workforce.
Harrison’s passion for healthcare began in childhood; her mother, a nurse, was the primary influencer. She started her career in nursing, ultimately becoming a family nurse practitioner before moving into education leadership.
She says representation is not just about workforce diversity; it directly impacts patient care.
“People trust people whom they’re familiar with,” Harrison explains. “When patients see someone who looks like them, they feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and fears. They feel valued.”
This trust, she says, can lead to better health outcomes and a stronger connection between patients and providers.
Harrison’s approach is focused on making healthcare careers financially accessible.
“I had to work and go to school because my family couldn’t pay for my education,” she recalls.
That experience shaped how she now helps students navigate career pathways that avoid overwhelming debt.
At HCC Coleman, students can start in high school with dual credit programs, earn a certified nursing assistant (CNA) license and build toward higher credentials like licensed vocational nurse (LVN), registered nurse (RN) or even advanced practice degrees. Hospitals often provide tuition reimbursement, allowing students to advance without taking on large loans.
“There are so many roles in healthcare that people don’t think about,” Harrison says. “It might be radiography, surgical technology, anesthesia technology or jobs that pay well with two-year degrees. Students can start working, get experience and get their education paid for.”
Harrison credits her success to mentors who encouraged her through advanced nursing training. Now, she makes it a point to serve as that example for younger students.
“I want to be that person who a young girl can see and say, ‘I can do that too,’” she says.
Harris uses her network to connect students with shadowing opportunities, internships and leadership exposure. She emphasizes the importance of sponsorship and advocates for students behind closed doors alongside traditional mentorship.
Patterson is the secretary of the Houston Medical Forum (HMF), a chapter of the National Medical Association (NMA), an organization for Black physicians. HMF offers mentoring events, mock interviews and opportunities for students to connect with doctors.
“Many of us are dedicated to mentoring or just being accessible to pre-med people, especially in a changing political landscape where diversity and inclusion initiatives are being challenged, Patterson says. “That’s what I sought out. That’s how I got through. These organizations provide essential, dedicated support for students who may not find it elsewhere.”
This article originally appeared here.