Children's Hospital and The 15 White Coats Partner to Support and Inspire Minority Youth to Pursue Medical School

During Black History Month, mission-aligned organizations are proud to announce collaboration to build a future that includes more black physicians, and that begins in the classroom.

NEW ORLEANS – This month Children’s Hospital New Orleans and The 15 White Coats formalized a partnership where the two organizations will work together to bring the inspiring mission of The 15 White Coats into the classroom, sharing stories of strength and resilience while educating minority students about careers in medicine.

Through the partnership, Children’s Hospital is providing an initial $25,000 in financial support to amplify the important work of The 15 White Coats organization, which provides scholarships, photos, and resources to high school students, college students, medical school applicants, and medical students.

The 15 White Coats will collaborate with Children’s Hospital’s ThriveKids Student Wellness Project to help Greater New Orleans area students reimagine their futures, understand their talent, worth, and limitless potential. A group of The 15 White Coats medical school students will visit schools in partnership with Children’s Hospital on a regular basis, serving as mentors for minority students with the goal to inspire students of color to become doctors.

“We are beyond elated to establish a partnership with Children’s Hospital New Orleans,” said The 15 White Coats leadership. “Our priorities as an organization are to influence youth, develop scholarships, and promote cultural imagery. This amazing partnership allows us to further all of our priorities. We dreamed of moments like this one because we know the work CHNOLA has done and will continue to do to better NOLA. This partnership is a testament to their commitment to NOLA youth and a more equitable future.”

Children’s Hospital’s financial support will help provide scholarships through The 15 White Coats for those applying to medical school, and will also be used toward the development of The 15 White Coats children’s book to be released later this year.

“Children’s Hospital is proud to collaborate with such an inspiring group of young people who have recognized a need, and taken action to create change,” said Natasha N. Richardson, Vice President of Academic Affiliations and Community Programs and Chair of the Walter Pierre Diversity Committee at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “Together we hope to break down barriers and build a future that includes a more equitable medical education system.”

The 15 White Coats is a group of medical students who have recognized their responsibility to affect change. The organization is comprised of a group of devoted, insightful, determined leaders who are committing to reimagining what children from our communities see, and to help all children understand that they are brilliant, talented, have worth, are loved, and that there is a future for them. The 15 White Coats emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.

Every donation to The 15 White Coats helps minorities get into Medical School so that they can become doctors. To date the organization has raised more than $250,000.

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About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital is a 222-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 400 physicians trained in more than 40 pediatric sub-specialties, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, and Lafayette. Children’s offers primary care services at 13 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, and East Jefferson General Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org

About The 15 White Coats, INC

The 15 White Coats is a nonprofit organization based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2019, the organization’s inception began after their photo of 15 Black medical students standing in front of a slave quarter at the Whitney Plantation went viral. This attention led to them being featured on Kelly Clarkson, CNN, Steve Harvey, Good Morning America, amongst other media outlets. The immediately established a nonprofit that runs entirely on a volunteer basis, where 100% of all donations go towards their mission. Since then, the organization, led by Dr. Russell Ledet, Sydney Labat, Rachel Turner, and Brian Washington, Jr. utilize those photos to inspire children in classrooms globally. They also provide scholarships to high school students, college students, and medical students, all hoping to one day contribute to the medical field in some way. To date, the organization has raised over $200,000 and helped with everything from hurricane recovery to sponsoring exams and study materials for aspiring physicians. Donate and learn more at www.the15whitecoats.org.