Rocket Fuel for Your Dreams
Recognizing the significance of being a Black physician, Italo eagerly sought acceptance into medical school – facing 144 rejection letters along the way. Never losing faith, he used the rejections as the “rocket fuel” he needed to explode towards his dreams.
Italo Brown, MD
Italo Brown, MD is an emergency physician and clinical instructor at Stanford University Hospital. Born and raised in Sacramento, California – his story is one of absolute perseverance. Aware of health disparities from a young age, he initially pursued a career in public health, graduating from both Morehouse College and Boston University. On recognizing the significance of being a Black physician, he eagerly sought acceptance into medical school – facing 144 rejection letters along the way. Never losing faith, he used the rejections as the “rocket fuel” he needed to explode towards his dreams.
His tenacity landed him a spot at Meharry Medical College, where he quickly stood out as both a leader and advocate for diversity in medicine – racking up numerous accolades. He is now a MED Front Scholar, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Scholar, mentor for Tour for Diversity in Medicine, and board member for Trap medicine – a Barbershop-based wellness initiative launched in Oakland, California. “When the door opens you are supposed to run through it… I sprinted and never looked back,” says Dr. Brown.
Faith is a huge component of his ability to believe in himself. “Faith has to be a part of what you do. We enter too many rooms where we don’t look like anybody else. We have the highest disease burdens. And, to think that you can exist in that space and actually move the needle, you [gotta] have a little bit of faith.”
Now, as a fully licensed emergency medicine physician – Dr. Brown sees people when they are at their absolute worst, and there is often-times a mental health component to that. “We treat mental health in the black community like grandma’s couch. It’s got a plastic cover on it. You’re supposed to look at it but never actually engage or sit down on it,” he says. Dr. Brown is lifting the veil on these hard to discuss health care topics in the Black community – committing himself to being the doctor that helps marginalized individuals in crisis achieve optimal health. Dr. Brown’s persistence in pursuing his dream and the explosiveness with which he has tackled healthcare disparities sets him apart as a Bold and Gritty man.
We highlight successful Black Men ages 18-40, who embody what it means to be Bold and Gritty. If you or someone you know embodies these core values and would like to use our platform to shine a light on #Blackmale excellence and encourage future Bold and Gritty men, please DM us a picture and (1) your current occupation or educational status, (2) how you are making an impact in your community, and (3) what advice you would give for the next generation of Black men
