On Oct. 1, BlackDoctor announced the launch of its first Medical Advisory Board, bringing together eight physicians across specialties including psychiatry, oncology, nephrology and clinical trials. According to a press release, the board will help inform the company’s product and content development strategy for clinicians, advance its health education efforts, help shape new products and tools, and facilitate strategic engagements across the healthcare ecosystem — all while working to empower Black patients around the world.
Who is on the Medical Advisory Board?
The Medical Advisory Board includes Dr. Craig Emmit Cole, an oncology and hematology specialist in Detroit, MI; Dr. Chikelue Oragwu, who specializes in medical affairs in Marietta, GA; Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, a psychiatrist in Boston, MA; Dr. Yele Aluko, a cardiologist and physician executive in Charlotte, NC; Dr. Kristen Harris Nwanyanwu, an ophthalmologist in New Haven, CT; Dr. Adam Friedman, a dermatologist in Washington, DC; Dr. Beatrice Williams, an orthodontist in Raleigh-Durham, NC; and Dr. Keisha L. Gibson, a pediatric nephrologist in Chapel Hill, NC.
“Our Medical Advisory Board reflects who we are as a company — built by and for the community we serve, with real clinicians in the room,” said Akinwole Garrett, the CEO of BlackDoctor. “These eight physicians will help shape every part of BlackDoctor, from the products we build to the content our readers trust every day.”
What will they do?
The board’s role goes beyond simply holding an advisory title. Members will help inform new product development and conduct medical reviews of BlackDoctor’s content. They will represent the brand at industry events and conferences, while also contributing content and commentary for BlackDoctor.com and BlackDoctor.pro. Additionally, they will help to build relationships with pharmaceutical companies, academic medical institutions, medical schools, medical societies, foundations and health nonprofits.
Dr. Craig Emmitt Cole, who has done extensive clinical research on multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma — two conditions that disproportionately impact the Black Community — is honored to be bringing his expertise to the Medical Advisory Board.
“When BlackDoctor first approached me about joining the board, it was an easy decision,” Cole shared. “I thought about how many patients could be helped by the trusted resources BlackDoctor provides, and it just made sense. As part of the board, I’ve been able to help shape cutting-edge tools like WellBot and Health on Point from the ground up, drawing on what I’ve learned treating multiple myeloma in Black patients for years. We’re not just adding another AI product to the market — we’re building something that actually understands who it’s talking to.”
The board is a key part of BlackDoctor’s strategic rebrand and reintroduction into the health services industry. The company, which reaches 30 million people each year, is adding a formal layer of clinical oversight through physicians who understand the challenges facing Black patients and clinicians, with specialties spanning cardiovascular health, cancer, mental health, kidney disease, clinical trials, dermatology and vision care.
Garrett spoke to us about his vision for BlackDoctor in August during an exclusive interview.
During an exclusive interview with NewsOne on Aug. 13, Garrett spoke with us about his vision for the platform. A major part of Garrett’s vision is technology. BlackDoctor has introduced AI-powered tools such as Health On Point, a consumer-facing tool designed to help people better understand their health and prepare for conversations with their healthcare providers. The platform also launched WellBot, an AI-powered cultural fluency tool designed to help physicians and healthcare professionals better understand and navigate cultural differences across a range of patient experiences, health conditions and clinical scenarios.
The technology is built on years of health information. BlackDoctor’s 20 years of content, combined with knowledge from its Medical Advisory Board and physician advisors, have been organized into modules that power the conversations.
The idea is surprisingly simple: Give patients a chance to prepare before they walk into the doctor’s office, helping them feel more informed and confident while giving physicians a better understanding of their patients and the tools to provide more personalized care.
Garrett explained the larger vision behind the technology:
“We really thought about how can BlackDoctor evolve and become the operating system for health equity, and become the go-to platform that is developing tools to foster and increase cultural fluency, cultural competency, and overall health awareness around different racial and ethnic lines.”
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