Former security guard is now a medical student on the verge of the COVID-19 pandemic at the same hospital in Louisiana, where he studied medicine on note cards and shook doctors
- For five years, Drs. Russell Ledet, 34, as a security guard at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana
- He studied medicine on note cards and finally asked the resident of the hospital’s chief surgeon if he could shake him to learn first.
- Now Leted, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran, holds a PhD in molecular oncology from New York University and is at a medical school in Tulane, Louisiana.
- He works in the same hospital where he worked security to give back
- ‘From here on out and a lot of understanding of the health burdens and differences in health, I know if I’m not loud about it, then who will it be? ‘ he said
A black doctor saves lives amid the COVID-19 crisis is a medical student based in the same hospital where he once worked as a security guard.
For five years, Drs. Russell Ledet, 34, as a security guard at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana.
Inspired to become a doctor himself, he studied on note cards and asked doctors at the center if he could shade them.
While most told him they were too busy to help, Drs. Patrick Greiffenstein, the chief resident of Operation, took him up as a mentee and began his career.
Now Ledet, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran, holds a PhD in molecular oncology from New York University and is enrolled in both the MBA program and the medical school at Tulane in Louisiana.
Dr. Russell Ledet, 34, (above with wife and children) saves lives amid the COVID-19 crisis as a medical student based at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana – the same hospital where he once worked as a security guard for five years
He said while working as a security guard, he studied medicine on note cards and asked the resident to oversee the main operation.
“This is one of those reflective points when you try to understand how far you have come and how far you have to go,” Ledet told Good Morning America.
Ledet says he returned to the same hospital, where he began his medical journey with the hope of helping patients of color and being a mentor to the next ambitious prospective student hoping to enter the world of medicine.
He also said that serving the community, not so far from his ‘humble beginnings’ who grew up near Lake Charles, was important to him.
Despite the big steps in his career, Ledet says he still worries about the tense racial climate in the country in the wake of police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Ledet, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran, holds a PhD in molecular oncology from New York University and is enrolled in both the MBA program and medical school at Tulane, Louisiana.
At medical school, Ledet organized a photo shoot among black students of the Student National Medical Association of Tulane, wearing white coats for Whitney Plantation, a former slave plantation and museum. ‘The idea of the photo was to essentially illustrate our presence, and the history behind where we are today,’ said Ledet
His 14-year-old wife encourages him not to leave the house without his white coat in his car.
“My two little Black girls can turn on the TV, once a week, sometimes once a month, and they watch a video of someone who looks like they were murdered and it’s legal,” Ledet said.
“These kinds of things happen and no matter how much education I have, society does not see me as a human being,” he added.
At medical school, Ledet organized a photo shoot among black students of the Student National Medical Association of Tulane, wearing white coats for Whitney Plantation, a former slave plantation and museum.
‘The idea of the photo was to essentially illustrate our presence, and the history behind where we are today,’ Ledet said.
‘I’m from Louisiana. From here on out and a lot of understanding of the health burdens and differences in health, I know if I’m not loud about it, who will it be? ‘ Ledet says
Members pictured in scrubs working at the hospital
The proud father pictured with his two young daughters
‘I’m from Louisiana. From here and a lot of understanding of the health burdens and differences in health, I know if I’m not loud about it, who will it be? ‘ he added.
He says these photos are now being used as ‘cultural imagery’ as inspiration for future generations.
Today, an organization called The 15 White Coats was founded and provides opportunities for minority medical students around the world to achieve their goals.
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