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Advocacy CMA Community Disaster Preparedness Giving Back Leadership Partnerships Wellness YAC Student All Posts
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Columbus Medical Association Blog
Categories Advocacy CMA Community Disaster Preparedness Giving Back Leadership Partnerships Wellness YAC Student All Posts Subscribe
Youth Advisory Council Teaches Students How to Give Back to Their Community
Youth Advisory Council Teaches Students How to Give Back to Their Community
Giving BackMatt PetersSeptember 20, 2018YAC, philanthropy, youth, advisory, committee, Grace Wilcox, Brittany Villanueva Martinez, Dreams On Horseback, grants, grant, grantmaking, funding, cmaf, foundation, columbus, medical, associationComment
CMA Physician Running for Ohio Legislature
CMA Physician Running for Ohio Legislature
CMA Community, AdvocacyMatt PetersSeptember 20, 2018beth, liston, house, representatives, Ohio State University, OSU, Wexner, health value, senate, legislature, statehouse, worthington, dublin, franklin county, pediatrician, pediatrics, hospitalistComment
Doctor William Cotton named Co-Chair of PAC
Doctor William Cotton named Co-Chair of PAC
AdvocacyMatt PetersSeptember 20, 2018cotton, physician, nationwide, childrens, hospital, pediatric, doctor, political, action, committee, pac, concussionComment
Policy and Politics for CMA Physicians
Policy and Politics for CMA Physicians
AdvocacyMalcolm PorterSeptember 20, 2018Politics, PAC, Political, Action, Committee, Medicare, Medicaid, Malcolm Porter, Policy, Public, healthcare, advocacy, physiciansComment
The Changing Role of Physicians
The Changing Role of Physicians
CMA CommunityRobert Falcone, M.D.September 20, 2018pysician, physicians, cma, columbus, medical, association, ohio, nurse, practitioner, robert, falcone, bob, changing, role
Congratulations to CMA members named "Top Doctors"!
Congratulations to CMA members named "Top Doctors"!
Leadership, CMA CommunityCMAAugust 7, 2018Comment
Ohio Medicaid Change Responsive to Physician Concerns
Ohio Medicaid Change Responsive to Physician Concerns
AdvocacyMalcolm PorterJuly 22, 2018ODHP, MAC, medical, association, coalition, Ohio, physicians, health, program, mental, emotional, illness, medicaid, physician, SMBO, addiction
Health Care Reform Advisory from Oswald (CMA's Endorsed Provider of Employee Benefits)
Health Care Reform Advisory from Oswald (CMA's Endorsed Provider of Employee Benefits)
PartnershipsCMAJuly 20, 2018oswald, Association Health Plans, health plans, health, AHP, DOL, health care, healthcare, ACA, HIPAA, Trump, EHB, benefits
The Mindful Physician
The Mindful Physician
WellnessCMAJuly 3, 2018Stephanie Costa, Physicians, leadership, academy, PLA, Washington, Johnson, benzo, phil, cass, mindfulness, gladiators, doctors
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Terrence Philbin
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Terrence Philbin
CMA CommunityCMAJune 18, 2018Philbin, Terrence, orthopedic, surgeon, physician, doctor, spotlight, foot, ankleComment
Chances are you may be feeling exhausted and worn out
Chances are you may be feeling exhausted and worn out
Leadership, WellnessCMAJune 6, 2018
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Joel Simmons
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Joel Simmons
CMA CommunityCMAMay 3, 2018Joel, Simmons, Ohio Herbal Clinic, Ohio, herbal, clinic, spotlight, doctor, physicianComment
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Caroline Romanos
Doc Spotlight of the Week: Dr. Caroline Romanos
CMA CommunityCMAFebruary 26, 2018caroline, romanos, physician, doctor, spotlight, connecticut, SpanishComment
Stop the Bleed® Initiative
Stop the Bleed® Initiative
Disaster PreparednessCMAOctober 6, 2015stop the bleed, trauma, bleeding, RHEP, COTS, central ohio
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Made for Medicine Program Featured at Franklin County Commissioner’s Meeting

The Made for Medicine program, which aims to increase Black physician representation, was in the spotlight at the Franklin County Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Founder and president Dr. Laura Espy-Bell, along with two students, shared insights about the program’s impact and its mission to guide aspiring Black physicians from middle school through high school and beyond.

Led by black faculty members, students are taken through phases that include introductions to medicine and hands-on training, exploring specialties such as emergency medicine, pediatrics and general surgery, and even take part in procedures like ultrasounds.

When speaking with commissioners, Dr. Espy-Bell referred to each student as “doctor” because she believes in the importance of claiming the title to inspire them as they work toward their future.

Dr. Yasmine Ray-Thompson, a high school sophomore, told the commissioners about the importance of this program in her life, saying “It really inspired me and showed me… there’s people who look like me in this field, and that I can do it and have the people behind me who support me and who will give me help.”

Another student, Dr. CJ Stroud, has been part of Made for Medicine since the first cohort launched in 2021. He told commissioners about his favorite sessions. Watch here.

Dr. Espy-Bell thanked the commissioners for their support in providing more than $600,000 in funding through the County Commissioner’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion since 2023. You can watch their presentation to the commissioners here starting at 7:30.

More than 100 students have taken part in Made for Medicine since its inception in 2021, and the next cohort kicks off in April. Dr. Espy-Bell said there are plans to expand programming and support beyond high school.

This summer, Dr. Espy-Bell and other faculty members are taking students on a tour of medical schools and historically Black colleges to connect students with more role models in medicine. Donations are needed to fund this unique and impactful opportunity for students. Find out more about Made for Medicine and donate here.

• In photo “1” is (from left to right) student Dr. CJ Stroud (9th grade); Fevean Keflom (MfM Program Coordinator); Dr. Laura Espy-Bell (MfM Founder);

• In photo “2” (from left to right) is Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley; student Dr. Yasmine Ray-Thompson (10th grade); student Dr. CJ Stroud (9th grade); Dr. Laura Espy-Bell (MfM Founder); Franklin County Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce; Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady

1390 Dublin Rd,
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 240-7410

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