Durham native begins med school journey on a mission to serve hometown

By Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

Durham native Kelsey Lewis has only ever had one answer to the classic question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“I really want to become a doctor and practice medicine,” Lewis said.

Sitting on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus, the 25-year-old is now just a few weeks away from starting medical school and taking the next major step toward making that childhood dream a reality. Lewis will soon attend med school at the university.

“Having grown up in underserved communities and seeing the health disparities and ongoing health equity issues, it really motivated me to pursue a career in medicine,” Lewis said.

The rising student shared her interest in medicine was encouraged throughout grade school, including by a biology teacher who she credits with opening her eyes to the various job opportunities there are within the medical field.

After initially going to school for nursing, Lewis realized her true passion was in surgery and preventive medicine.

When asked how she plans to tackle the tough days of schooling ahead, Lewis stated she’d remind herself, “It all started with coming from an underserved community and the people that poured into me and loved on me in that space.”

She continued, “My purpose being greater than just trying to become a doctor but knowing that one day I get to go back and I get to serve those individuals that cared and loved on me.”

Lewis is one of more than 250 students who have received financial support to attend med school through The 15 White Coats. The Black physician-led nonprofit has provided over $700,000 to students like Lewis to cover things like entrance exams, application fees and interview preparation.

“The financial barriers to becoming a physician begin long before med school,” shared Lisa Batiste, The 15 White Coats Executive Director. “MCAT prep, registration, primary-secondary applications, traveling for interviews and more – that can exceed $6,000-12,000 before a student even receives an acceptance.”

Batiste told WRAL 77% of students nationwide cited cost as a significant barrier to med school entry.

The organization also offers mentorship opportunities and connects students with other resources needed to excel in their medical journeys.

The nonprofit’s name was inspired by a viral photo of 15 Black students from Tulane University School of Medicine standing in front of what used to be slave quarters at a Louisiana plantation.

Batiste noted the national recognition of the photo helped garner additional support and funding for the group’s mission to increase diversity in medicine.

“They need to believe they belong,” Batiste stated. “In our program, we offer not only peer mentorship but mentorship with seasoned physicians that allow them to discuss some of their concerns. 78% of students reported a significant boost in their confidence because of this.”

Nationwide, 5% of physicians are Black and 9% are Hispanic, according to the organization.

Lewis told WRAL News she is grateful for the support and guidance she’s received from The 15 White Coats and encouraged other medical students to get involved with the organization.

“These resources were a gamechanger for me, just simply because I don’t come from a background that can help fund these resources on my own,” Lewis said. “They even covered 10 schools I applied to during my primary applications, and they were able to find some networking opportunities for me.

The aspiring physician shared she hopes more students will be encouraged to pursue careers in medicine, especially in communities that may lack health care access.

“Even in the face of everything going on, there is still a huge need for more doctors, more nurses and more physicians, especially in communities like the one I come from,” Lewis said. “The long-term effect of having providers in these spaces I think outweighs current circumstances that we face today."

The 15 White Coats states the organization is comprised of volunteers with 100% of money raised going directly toward the organization’s cause.

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