Former security guard now a graduate of Tulane Medical School
The future healthcare leaders received their matches Friday at Tulane Medical School – and the day was victorious for 2022 graduate Dr. Russell Ledet. The Lake Charles native and Navy veteran told WDSU that his association with the Indiana University Triple Council was the result of 16 years of hard work and dedication to him and his family. As a security guard at Baton Rouge Medical in 2010, Ledet asked a doctor there if he could follow him into the operating room. The doctor agreed and Ledet spent several months following the doctor around the hospital – thus began the beginning of his medical journey. WDSU first covered Ledet in 2019 as he pursued his medical career at Tulane while also working on an MBA. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Dr. Ledet earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology from New York University. While at Tulane, he began working on a strong message to the public about the need for more black doctors. Her nonprofit, “The 15 White Coats,” was created after a photo of her black fellow students at Whitney Plantation medical school went viral in 2019. See a previous story by anchor Christina Watkins here. The organization has received national recognition and works actively to provide scholarships for students of color applying to medical school. “For these young black boys in my area, that’s it,” Ledet said during the game day ceremony. “That’s what we prayed for.” According to Tulane’s website, until Game Day match, senior medical students complete numerous applications and interviews at residencies of their choice, they rank where they would like to pursue their medical education, residency programs in turn rank applicants and the National Resident Matching Program produced the computer-generated matches. Ledet says pairing up with Indiana was a dream He was overcome with tears as he opened his letter to hear the news, surrounded by his wife and children. “We did it! Come on Man! I’m proud of you, black man! I’m proud of you, black man,” Ledet said, pointing excitedly at himself. “It’s us against the world, and we’re going to win every time.” Indiana’s triple-counsel residency includes studies in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry Dr. Ledet aims to focus on mental health accessibility for marginalized communities.
The future healthcare leaders received their matches Friday at Tulane Medical School – and the day was victorious for 2022 graduate Dr. Russell Ledet.
The Lake Charles native and Navy veteran told WDSU that his association with the Indiana University Triple Council was the result of 16 years of hard work and dedication to him and his family. As a security guard at Baton Rouge Medical in 2010, Ledet asked a doctor there if he could follow him into the operating room. The doctor agreed and Ledet spent several months following the doctor around the hospital – thus began the beginning of his medical journey.
WDSU first covered Ledet in 2019 as he pursued his medical career at Tulane while also working on an MBA. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Dr. Ledet earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology from New York University. While at Tulane, he began working on a strong message to the public about the need for more black doctors.
His fellowship”The 15 white coats“, was created after a photo of her black medical school classmates at the Whitney Plantation went viral in 2019. See a previous story from anchor Christina Watkins here.
The organization has received national recognition and is actively working to provide scholarships for students of color applying to medical school.
“For these young black boys in my area, that’s it,” Ledet said during the match day ceremony. “That’s what we prayed for.”
According to the Tulane website, leading up to Match Day, senior medical students complete numerous applications and interviews at residences of their choice. They rank the places where they would like to pursue their medical education. The residency programs in turn rank the applicants, and the National Resident Matching Program produces the computer-generated matches. Ledet says being paired with Indiana was a dream come true. He was overcome with tears as he opened his letter to hear the news, surrounded by his wife and children.
“We did it! Come on man! I’m proud of you, black man! I’m proud of you, black man,” Ledet said excitedly pointing at himself. “It’s us against the world, and we’re going to win every time.”
Indiana’s tri-council residency includes studies in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Ledet aims to focus on mental health accessibility for marginalized communities.