About this Project

The Inspiration

In December of 2010, I was introduced to two amazing women: Doris Wethers, one of the first black women to attend Yale Medical School, and Beatrix Hamburg, the first woman to graduate from Yale Medical School. These experiences planted the seed of conception for Present and Unaccounted For: Black Women in Medicine. This documentary does more than just relate their stories. This documentary will inspire and motivate. It will appeal to both young people and adults, and gain their belief that they can achieve the impossible, even in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds. The stories of these women will remind us that the greatest power to achieve and change our world lies within each one of us.

What We Are Doing

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Dr. Muriel Petioni, Dr. Jennifer Ellis, Dr. Claudia Thomas -- what do these four women have in common? They were all once young women without an idea of how to live out their lives. The choices they made led them to become doctors whose lives are inspirational stories of groundbreaking accomplishments in the medical field. Filming for Present and Unaccounted For: Black Women in Medicine has already begun. We have already interviewed a number of this nation's most prominent African American female doctors across a number of disciplines. Our video illustrates a portion of the hard work, energy, time and expenses that have already gone into this film. The major outcome of this film will happen off screen, in the hearts and minds of youth across the globe. We hope to plant the seeds of confidence and solidarity in young people that they too can achieve excellence and success despite obstacles.

Why We Need Your Help

A week after filming started, a substantial pledge of $250k was not honored. Many filmmakers know this dilemma and unfortunately, it has brought our production and filming process to a halt. Every dollar donated through this initiative will go directly to finishing the filming process and to post production costs. A national foundation has agreed to match whatever funds we are able to raise up to the amount of $75,000. These funds will go towards: Filming Dr. Edith Irby Jones in Texas, one of the co-founders of the Association of Black Cardiologists. Filming of a unique family of three daughters who followed in their father's footsteps to become doctors in Atlanta. Filming of the first African American women to become Dean of a Medical School in New York, first African American woman Surgeons General in Arkansas and first African American woman Neurosurgeon. Cost of editing and post-production. Please note that all donations are tax deductible.