Annual conference brings students and doctors of color all in one place

Editors note: On October 14, 2023, the Mission Vision Project hosted its annual Critical Mass Gathering mentorship program event. CMG is a collaboration between area schools of medicine, area hospital systems and community organizations that focus on mentorship between physicians and students of color.

“I went to critical mass at first when I was in year two of the six-year program,” Dumebi Okocha, MD Candidate Class of 2024, UMKC School of Medicine, said. “Actually, mine was virtual because it’s during the time of the pandemic, but it was still really great to see all the faces, people from different med schools like KU and KCU. We were able to work with different physicians and that’s where I really started to connect with different mentors that resided in my school, because before then, I didn’t really know any physicians that were at my school that looked like me.”

“Honestly, my first time attending CMG, it was kind of a breath of fresh air,” Jada Ohene Agyei, MD Candidate Class of 2024, UMKC School of Medicine, said. “For whatever reason, I felt a lot more relaxed because a lot of the time you’re the only black person in the room, and so to be on the complete opposite side of that it was, it’s actually kind of relieving.”

“When I first walked in, it felt really like coming home, just a comforting environment that was welcome and that you could be yourself,” Harmony Saunders, MD and PhD Candidate Class of 2024, University of Kansas School of Medicine, said. “I’m not from Kansas City originally, so when I got there I was amazed to see so many physicians that looked like me and peers that I didn’t know about that were years ahead or behind. It helped me really feel like I could make it in this program in the city, not knowing anyone.”

“One of the great joys of my life is being a physician,” David Lisbon, MD, Mission Vision Project vice president, said. “I think that I have an interest in doing everything I can to inform the next generation of physicians of my path, my blueprint, and encourage them in any way that I can.”

Every year, I kind of look forward to this event because they’re individuals I’ve worked with for over 20 years, and it just brings me a sense of comfort,” Michael Moncure, MD, professor, department of surgery, University Health said. “We’re able to talk. It’s not only for those individuals that we’re mentoring, but for us as well as almost like a horizontal mentoring and encouragement. It just kind of keeps me going, and it also lets me know that there are other people that share some of the experiences I’ve had and that can identify with that. When I talk to this man about these things, he knows and it’s incredibly beneficial.”

“I think if you continuously see people that don’t look like you and don’t share a similar background to you, you sort of start to question whether you really fit in or not,” Agyei siad. “Every year, when I attend CMG, I’m reminded that I do belong. This is normal. I’m on the right path, and it kind of reaffirms my decision to go into urology.”

“It’s so great to see a group of people of color, of physicians coming in Kansas City that are able to help you, mentor you, and are truly there to see you succeed,” Okocha said.