I Am Black History: A Reflection on Legacy, Representation and the Road Ahead

By Logan Danner, OMS I, A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

February has always been a time of reflection for me. Black History Month is more than a celebration—it is an acknowledgment of resilience, achievements and the sacrifices of those who came before us. It stands as both a testament to progress and a call to action, reminding us of the barriers that persist for Black communities today.

As a first-year medical student at A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, I am filled with immense gratitude. In just a few years, I will join the mere three percent of Black women physicians in the United States—a humbling and sobering statistic. My journey as a first-generation medical student and Black woman in medicine extends beyond academic excellence; it is about breaking barriers, mentoring, uplifting future generations and navigating spaces where I am often one of the few—if not the only. My presence in medicine is both a reflection of tenacity and a commitment to forging a path for future generations.

My path to medicine is deeply personal. It was shaped by my maternal grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis—a defining moment that revealed the stark realities of healthcare disparities. Watching my family struggle to navigate a system where providers did not look like us, or fully understand us, was eye-opening. I realized then that medicine is more than a profession—it is a calling. I desire to be the physician who not only meets my patients’ medical needs but understands their lived experiences.

Black History Month is not just about honoring the past; it is about continuing the fight for equity.

It is a tribute to the profound contributions of Black pioneers in medicine—visionaries like Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman physician in the United States; Dr. Charles R. Drew, who revolutionized blood transfusions; and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who performed the world’s first successful heart surgery. Along with celebrating the accomplishments, we must also confront the ongoing disparities in healthcare and the underrepresentation of Black physicians.

As an osteopathic medical student, I am proud to embrace a holistic, patient-centered approach that treats individuals as whole beings—mind, body and spirit. Whether through lifestyle modifications or osteopathic manipulative treatments, I am committed to providing care that uplifts my community.

This month holds profound significance for me. Standing in this moment, I can honor the sacrifices that have paved my path while embracing the responsibility of helping to shape the future. Reflecting on the younger version of myself, I was a determined pre-medical student who took multiple gap years to strengthen my application, through international medical mission trips, research, clinical experience and earning a master’s degree in nutrition. Every step of that journey was fueled by an unwavering commitment to becoming the physician my future patients deserve; I owe it to them. I owe it to my community. I owe it to Black history.

I am Black history in the making. Black history lives within me. With every patient I treat, every student I mentor and every barrier I break, I will continue to honor the legacy of resilience, excellence and progress that defines our story.