The 15 White Coats

We are The 15 White Coats® — a powerful collective of changemakers, educators, medical professionals, and advocates committed to radically reshaping the future of medicine and education. Born from a viral moment rooted in history, we represent a movement that honors resilience, uplifts representation, and builds real pathways for Black and brown students to enter and thrive in medicine and STEM fields. We are mentors, scholars, storytellers, and bridge-builders. Our work is grounded in the belief that equity begins with access — to opportunity, to resources, to visibility. We are here to inspire, to equip, and to walk alongside students, educators, and communities across the country as they pursue excellence and transform systems. We are more than an image — we are the movement behind it.

The 15 White Coats® is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization committed to transforming the face of medicine by increasing the number of underrepresented students, particularly Black and brown individuals, who enter and succeed in medical and STEM careers. It began with a powerful photo of 15 Black medical students in white coats at the Whitney Plantation in Louisiana — an image that sparked a movement of hope, resilience, and representation. Today, the organization channels that energy into tangible initiatives that create pipelines of opportunity and support for students across the country. Through flagship programs like Funding the Future Physicians, The Resilient Readers Book Club®, and the HBCU Tethered Tour, The 15 White Coats® provides scholarships, mentorship, MCAT preparation, literacy access, and culturally relevant educational materials. These efforts are aimed at dismantling systemic barriers to success in education and medicine by affirming the potential of students from marginalized communities. At its core, The 15 White Coats® is about reshaping narratives, providing access to opportunity, and building a future in which every student sees themselves in the white coat — not just as a symbol, but as a destination.