Dr. Leon McDougle, chief diversity officer at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, was appointed president of the National Medical Association, which represents African American physicians in the U.S.
McDougle, who is the association's 121st president, was interested in the role in response to recent attention nationally to racial inequities. "Now more than ever, we must take a stand against the systemic racism in our nation's healthcare delivery system that negatively impacts the Black community and other underserved populations," he said in a statement.
In the presidential role, McDougle will advocate for culturally competent training of doctors, improved maternal health among African American women and education about gun violence prevention, according to a news release.
The National Medical Association, which represents 50,000 African American physicians, advocates for elimination of health disparities and increasing African Americans and other underrepresented groups in the healthcare profession through scholarships. The organization also hosts a convention annually with continued medical education courses accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
