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.