Cambridge Black Medics Society

Cambridge Black Medics Society (CBMS) is a community that encourages, inspires and empowers, amidst the challenges and complexities of being a black medic at Cambridge. The society was established in 2020, with the Black lives matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic acting as catalysts for its initiation. The year brought many uncertainties and difficulties across the globe but also brought to the forefront the prevalence of racial injustices, and the spoken and unspoken challenges faced by black, minority and ethnic communities.

Creating and cultivating a community within which black medical students and doctors can thrive and excel, is at the heart of this student-run society. The cause is to celebrate the achievements of black medics, foster strong supportive networks as well as advocate for racial equity in the medical field. The overarching vision is for a health force that celebrates diversity, with a culture centred on inclusivity and actively working to eradicate racism, and all its derivatives, in all areas of healthcare.

CBMS aims, initiatives and programs can be summarised by our three veins:

Connect – to act as a platform and provide opportunities for social and career-orientated networking.
Counsel – to provide a base for pastoral and academic welfare
Campaign – to collaborate with the school of clinical medicine, other organisations and societies in our passionate pursuit of racial equity in medicine.