PHILADELPHIA—The Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania (MSEP) hosted its highly anticipated 2025 Black Doctors’ Gala, Legacy & Liberty: The Masquerade Ball, on Dec. 12 at the elegant Downtown Club. The evening was a dazzling celebration of achievement, resilience, and the unwavering commitment to increasing Black representation in medicine.
Sister Dr. Safiyya Shabazz, president of MSEP, opened the night with a powerful welcoming address. “Tonight is more than just a beautiful evening with beautiful people,” she declared.
“It is a testament to how far we’ve come and a reminder of why we must keep showing up. Despite ongoing attacks on diversity, we are not just surviving; we are thriving.”
Sister Dr. Shabazz highlighted the society’s recent accomplishments, including nearly doubling the number of students in their Prep Scholars Academy, expanding scholarships, and launching initiatives like the Black Philly Grad Wishlist and the MD Career Awareness Program in local high schools.
The evening spotlighted the next generation of Black physicians, including Praise Yormie, a standout scholar from the MSEP Prep Scholars Academy. In an emotional speech, Ms. Yormie shared her journey from Monrovia, Liberia, where she witnessed healthcare inequities firsthand, to her current path toward becoming a physician.
“Medicine is more than scientific knowledge; it is built on meaningful relationships,” she said. “The MSEP Prep Program has given me the opportunity to pursue this calling, and I am ready to move forward.”
The gala also featured the induction of Muslim physician Dr. Taliba Foster into the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. Dr. Foster’s oath underscored the evening’s theme of service and dedication to the community.
Caroline Demarco, representing Genentech, reaffirmed its commitment to health equity. “We cannot improve patient outcomes without a diverse physician population,”
Ms. Demarco stated, emphasizing the importance of inclusive research and representation in clinical trials. She praised the physicians in the room as “the critical infrastructure that ensures care actually reaches our community.”
The night’s keynote speaker, State Senator Vincent Hughes, delivered a stirring call to action. Reflecting on systemic barriers and personal loss, he underscored the urgent need for Black professionals in healthcare. “We need truth-tellers in healthcare to break down the systemic failures that cost us our lives,” he said. “You are the vanguard of Black professionalism.”
The gala also celebrated the resilience and determination of students like Sister Shante X, a dedicated MCAT scholar from Tampa, Florida, and the Nation of Islam’s Mosque No. 47, who is preparing for her third attempt at the exam.
“This time is definitely different,” she shared with The Final Call, crediting the mentorship and support she’s received through MSEP. Her advice to others: “Keep your prayers up, study hard, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
For Ms. Yormie, a Cabrini University graduate from Philadelphia, the path to medical school is about more than just personal success; it’s about representation, she told The Final Call. Currently preparing for the MCAT, she notes that her biggest hurdle is a lack of role models.
“It’s discouraging to see the barriers we face when applying to medical school,” she admits. “But the MSEP program showed me people who look like me overcoming those same hurdles. It’s not just about getting into school; it’s about having a community that cares about my well-being.”
As a fourth-year medical student at Jefferson and the first future doctor in her family, Maria Johnson understands the difficulty of navigating medicine without established connections. Now, she is paying it forward as a mentor in the MCAT Scholars Prep program.
“My goal is to bring other Black students and students of color into medicine with me,” Ms. Johnson explains. She warns that recent legal decisions regarding affirmative action are already reducing class diversity.
“We need strong mentorship and public support to keep these pathways open. We are already seeing the numbers drop, and I mourn the loss of equitable opinions that we desperately need in healthcare.”
Dr. Demetrius Woodard, a psychiatry resident at Penn, credits the organization for helping him transition from medical student to physician. Growing up in Southwest Philadelphia, he witnessed significant trauma, which inspired his career in psychiatry to help heal his community.
For Dr. Woodard, the program offers a rare sanctuary. “It’s a blessing to have spaces where you can take off the ‘persona’ and truly be yourself among doctors who look like you,” he told The Final Call.
He advocates for community-based initiatives over reliance on government to combat the decline in Black doctors. His message to the next generation is simple: “There will be people telling you that you can’t do it. Understand your self-worth, work hard, and know that we are here for you.”
Voices of leadership echoed throughout the evening, with Dr. Adib Rushdan emphasizing the importance of mentorship and representation. “Having an example you can relate to peels away the negative belief that you cannot do something,” he said.
Dr. Lynda Thomas-Mabine, a 30-year MSEP member, highlighted the organization’s efforts to rebuild the pipeline of Black physicians. “When we have competent and culturally sensitive healthcare providers, we see significantly better health outcomes in our community,” she explained during a Final Call interview.
The 2025 Black Doctors’ Gala was more than a celebration—it was a rallying cry for action, a showcase of resilience, and a beacon of hope for the future of Black medicine. As Sister Dr. Shabazz reminded the audience, “We all have something to give, whether it’s money or time as a mentor.
This mission is personal, and now is the time to put our resources where our values are. With the support of donors, sponsors, and a dedicated community, the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania continues to pave the way for the next generation of Black physicians, ensuring that the legacy of excellence and the fight for equity endure.”