Black Man in a White Coat

A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine

By: Damon Tweedy M.D.

Narrated by: Damon Tweedy M.D.

“Hearing Dr. Tweedy speak was less of a lecture and more of an open invitation to engage in a meaningful conversation with a passionate caregiver. Dr. Tweedy’s personal stories prompted a ton of reflection on compassion, mental health, patient-centered care, and our own identity-related biases. These insights are invaluable as we return to our clinical settings, better equipped to care with and for our patients.”—Megan Walsh, Program Manager DEI, Case Western Reserve University, Medical School

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S TOP TEN NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR

A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK SELECTION • A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE BOOK SELECTION

This program is read by the author.

One doctor's passionate and profound memoir of his experience grappling with race, bias, and the unique health problems of black Americans

When Damon Tweedy begins medical school, he envisions a bright future where his segregated, working-class background will become largely irrelevant. Instead, he finds that he has joined a new world where race is front and center. The recipient of a scholarship designed to increase black student enrollment, Tweedy soon meets a professor who bluntly questions whether he belongs in medical school, a moment that crystallizes the challenges he will face throughout his career. Making matters worse, in lecture after lecture the common refrain for numerous diseases resounds, "More common in blacks than in whites."

Black Man in a White Coat examines the complex ways in which both black doctors and patients must navigate the difficult and often contradictory terrain of race and medicine. As Tweedy transforms from student to practicing physician, he discovers how often race influences his encounters with patients. Through their stories, he illustrates the complex social, cultural, and economic factors at the root of many health problems in the black community. These issues take on greater meaning when Tweedy is himself diagnosed with a chronic disease far more common among black people. In this powerful, moving, and deeply empathic book, Tweedy explores the challenges confronting black doctors, and the disproportionate health burdens faced by black patients, ultimately seeking a way forward to better treatment and more compassionate care.

A Macmillan Audio production from Picador.

©2015 Damon Tweedy, M.D. (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“In this fascinating, heartbreaking memoir, Tweedy documents his experiences as an African American doctor in a medical system that can be 'just as sick as its patients.'”—O, The Oprah Magazine

“Tweedy reveals all you need to know about the Byzantine health care system, wide-ranging disparities that persist and, more important, how we can take control of our well-being...Black Man in a White Coat is certain to garner incredible attention during the literary awards season. It's a book that deserves a very long shelf life.”—Essence

“In ways wholly individual but similarly intricate, Margo Jefferson, Dr. Damon Tweedy and Ta-Nehisi Coates examine the impact of race on our expectations and experiences. And in doing so, they challenge us to as well.”—Time

Moving. Much Needs To Change!

Dr.Damon Tweedy gives a brutally honest account of his experiences training and practicing in the medical field.
His horrible experiences with racism, prejudice, awful presumption and dismissals from others in the field left me shocked and horrified.
There were several incidents he shared that gave me pause, but the most egregious was his professor who mistook him for a janitor in the classroom. When he informed the jerk that he was, indeed a student, the racist twit asked him why he was in the class! Duh!?
Another equally egregious incident was the doctor who offered him no help in the emergency room when he hurt his ankle until the twit found out that Damon was a fellow physician.
Then the lazy arse doctor went overboard to provide Dr. Tweed with care. That is simply unacceptable. Doctors take the Hypocratic Oath to do no wrong yet some them are too busy judging and selecting who deserves care that they no longer serve the general public.
The book is an important reminder, especially to minorities, to be vigilant about the quality of care you receive and to not be scared to demand better.
Years ago, I remember waking up one weekend to blood covering the inside of one of my eyes. I had never had such an experience in my entire life so I rushed to the emergency room. My left eye was bleeding and I was freaked out.
The nursing staff were concerned and got me in fairly quickly. Then I had to wait for the doctor. When he finally showed up, he barely acknowledged my presence, didn't look at me or examine my eye.
He looked at my chart, asked me what I had done and sent me home with nary a diagnosis or further instructions on how to resolve it.
He told me it's nothing, maybe a blood vessel. It will clear up. I was furious but felt helpless at the time.
Today, I wouldn't let him get away with such shoddy and irresponsible non treatment especially as the bill to my insurance was over $1000! Can you imagine?
Dr. Tweedy had a similar experience but called his fellow doctor out right there in the curtained emergency room.
This book is a great listen and a solid reminder to advocate vociferously for your own care. Do not tolerate lousy, lazy, racist treatments from anyone!

Dr. Tweedy’s self Questioning

What it’s like for a black doctor to treat people of other races! Self assessment is so important to success and Dr. Tweedy is a master if that.

Storytelling

Dr. Tweedy does an increíble job, keeping his readers engaged, while also teaching important lessons.

Great Read

This is a great book for EVERYONE to read. The experiences Dr. Tweedy profoundly speaks about still happen today. And it’s important to keep speaking about them until a change happens.