On January 24, Courtney McMickens, MD, MPH, MHS, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, gave the plenary address at Duke’s 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet. The event, hosted by Duke’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA)—a student-run organization for medical students of color—was held at the Hilton Durham.
Duke SNMA’s mission is to enrich, empower, and enlighten students of color at Duke so they may be not only leaders within the field of medicine, but also within the community.
In her address, McMickens reflected on the connection between Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and our mission in healthcare. Dr. King’s commitment to justice, she noted, was about “addressing the systemic inequalities that permeate every aspect of our lives, especially in healthcare, education, and social services.”
She recalled the first time she came to the Duke campus more than 20 years ago for an undergraduate summer research program, where she attended a talk that sparked her passion for improving the lives of those at the intersection of illness, suffering, and societal inequality. Two decades later, her work as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, with many patients from marginalized communities, continues to fuel this passion.
“What matters most is that we stand firm in our commitment to do good, especially when doing so is difficult, inconvenient, or controversial.”
— Courtney McMickens, MD, MPH, MHS
McMickens encouraged attendees to recognize the deep connection between our individual and collective efforts. “We don’t need to be superheroes to make a difference, though sometimes it feels as though we are called to be,” she said. “What matters most is that we stand firm in our commitment to do good, especially when doing so is difficult, inconvenient, or controversial.”
She left the audience members—many of them medical students, residents, and fellows—with several pieces of advice:
- Don’t underestimate the power of your presence.
- Don’t underestimate the power of supporting those who are coming up behind you.
- Don’t underestimate the power of an encouraging word.
- Don’t underestimate the power of your position.
- Don’t underestimate the power of your work.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a community working towards a common goal.
“We may not always see immediate results,” McMickens concluded. “But our efforts are like seeds—sometimes they take time to grow, but the fruits of our labor can be profound.”