In a country where Black health outcomes still lag behind—and where Black physicians make up less than 6% of the medical workforce—Black medical associations are more than just professional groups.
They’re a lifeline. A legacy. A radical act of community care.
For over 50 years, the Sinkler Miller Medical Association has stood as a pillar of support for Black physicians and medical students in the Bay Area. Rooted in the East Bay but grounded in a national movement, we’re proud to be a local chapter of the National Medical Association (NMA)—an organization with a legacy as powerful as the people it serves.
Why the National Medical Association and Its Affiliates Exist in the First Place
Let’s rewind the clock.
The NMA was founded in 1895, a time when Black doctors were barred from joining most mainstream medical societies—including the American Medical Association.
In response, a group of trailblazing Black physicians created the NMA to ensure that our voices would be heard, our research respected, and our patients properly served.
The NMA has since grown into the largest and oldest organization representing Black physicians in the U.S., advocating for policies that address health disparities and creating space for culturally responsive care. But its existence is still a response to the systemic barriers that persist today—from unequal access to medical education to bias in hiring and advancement.
Organizations like the NMA—and chapters like Sinkler Miller—are not just about closing gaps. We’re about building bridges, lifting each other up, and ensuring our communities are cared for by people who understand them.
Our Local Legacy: Sinkler Miller Medical Association
Here in Oakland, we carry that national mission forward through intentional, on-the-ground action. For more than five decades, Sinkler Miller has been:
- Mentoring future doctors: From pathway programs to scholarships, we guide Black students from high school hallways to hospital corridors.
- Building a network of support: Whether you’re a new resident or a seasoned specialist, we create opportunities for doctors to connect, collaborate, and thrive.
- Fighting for health equity: We advocate for culturally responsive care, better health outcomes for our communities, and policies that dismantle medical racism.
- Preserving our history: We uplift pioneers like Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman physician in the U.S., and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who performed the first successful open-heart surgery. Their stories remind us that we come from a long line of healers, innovators, and changemakers.
Why This Matters for Our Communities
Black patients are more likely to trust and feel heard by Black doctors. Studies have shown that with racial concordance of care, health outcomes improve. Yet, the number of Black doctors hasn’t kept pace with population growth.
That gap isn’t just a statistic—it’s a missed opportunity for healing.
Medical associations like Sinkler Miller and the NMA are actively changing that. By advocating for admissions reform, supporting students financially and emotionally, and creating spaces of belonging in a field where we’ve historically been excluded, we’re helping to shift not just the face of medicine—but the heart of it.
This work isn’t just for us. It’s for the patients who deserve to be seen and understood. It’s for the youth who dream of medicine but don’t yet see a path forward. It’s for the ancestors who were denied the chance to wear a white coat. It’s for the future we’re building—one where wellness, justice, and representation go hand in hand.
The Bigger Picture: This Is About Legacy and Liberation
Joining our medical association isn’t just about networking. It’s about being part of a lineage and a movement.
It’s about standing on the shoulders of giants and reaching back to pull the next one up. It’s about affirming that we belong in every room where decisions about health are being made.
Whether you’re a patient, a pre-med student, a physician, or a community leader—there’s a role for you in this work.
Want to learn more?
- Explore the legacy and advocacy of the National Medical Association
- Learn how Black Men in White Coats is working to increase representation
- See how White Coats for Black Lives is addressing structural racism in medicine
Together, we can create a healthcare system that doesn’t just treat—but truly honors—the lives and stories of Black people.
That’s the power of Black medical associations, and that’s the power of us.