Jasmine Weiss
Black Med Connect (B-MED) – MICRO Fall 2023
Published February 14, 2024
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Jasmine Weiss, Founder and CEO of Black Med Connect (B-MED) based in Charlotte, NC. Black Med Connect (B-MED), is an innovative platform shaping the future of medical networking for Black doctors and aspiring doctors, fostering social and professional connections.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: Just 5% of physicians are Black, even though we make up 13% of the US population. It’s a real issue, impacting everyone, from aspiring doctors to those already practicing. Imagine navigating your journey feeling isolated and having limited access to mentorship and support. Think about being one of the few, like 2 out of 200 med students or 2 out of 80 residents. These are the stories I hear from those in training and those who are now seeing patients. I’ve personally faced it on my path to becoming a pediatrician. The struggles we commonly face with racism, bias, and microaggressions are a constant reality as we navigate the journey. We see how this impacts patients from similar backgrounds and how it shapes the care they receive. I wanted to create a supportive community no matter where you study or work, and that’s why I created Black Med Connect. The B-MED app, will be safe space for Black medical students and practicing physicians to forge relationships, share knowledge, and build camaraderie. This will be a powerful tool for career advancement to empower Black students and physicians.
Q: What does the road ahead look like for your company?
A: We eagerly anticipate the upcoming launch of the B-MED Platform in the next few months! We want to reach as many diverse premedical students, medical trainees, and practicing physicians as possible as we grow the network. We are heading on the B-MED Amplified tour across various college campuses (including some North Carolina HBCUs!), medical schools, and health systems. During this tour, we’ll spotlight inspiring stories of Black physicians on the B-MED live podcast, providing students with valuable insights on how to navigate the journey to medical school. We will also share more about the app and how students can connect with one another. Additionally, we look forward to creating partnerships with healthcare organizations, medical schools, and professional health associations to create as many opportunities for our users as possible.
While visiting Charlotte, Jasmine recommends:
- If in Charlotte you should check out 7th Restaurant and Lounge or RH Rooftop Restaurant!
Support B-MED and Jasmine by:
- Subscribe to the Black Med Connect Podcast on Youtube, all podcast platforms and Instagram and share with any Black or Brown student you may know interested in the medical field.
