Celebrating Black History Month with Kyle Sherrod, DO, vice chief of anesthesiology at Jackson West Medical Center

Kyle Sherrod, DO, never considered a career in medicine. A chance meeting with an encouraging physician opened his eyes to the possibilities of working in health care.

“I met a Black physician who was the director of a local health system in north Philadelphia. He mentioned I should take the MCAT and that I’d be a good fit for medicine,” Dr. Sherrod said. “He became a good mentor to me. I don’t think I would have been able to have honest conversations about my dreams, goals, and concerns with someone who was not familiar with my cultural upbringing.”

Dr. Sherrod shadowed the doctor, learned about the different aspects of being a physician, and received guidance on how to overcome some of the obstacles of working in medicine, including ways to pay for medical school and succeed during years of training.

“Medicine is probably one of the most rewarding fields anyone can do as a profession, and more people should be able to see themselves in it,” he said. “But there is a high opportunity cost, which can scare people away. Many people in medicine come from modest backgrounds. It’s attainable for everyone.”

Currently, Dr. Sherrod is vice chief of anesthesiology at Jackson West Medical Center. He strives to help others see the career possibilities in medicine, and hopes Black History Month helps inspire future generations to make a difference – despite the obstacles.

“Black History Month is a celebration of all the accomplishments we’ve made in this country, despite the systematic oppression we faced and continue to face, and for the current generation to see what’s possible despite the barriers to success,” he said.

One area that still requires more progress is addressing disparities in care. For example, Black women continue to be more likely to experience life-threatening conditions before and after giving birth as opposed to white women.

“Acknowledgment is the first step in addressing a problem,” Dr. Sherrod said. “Now, we have to take steps to remove the gap. A lot has to be done through education – clinical and non-clinical – as well as addressing culturally competent care, diversity, and implicit and explicit biases.”