Medical Arts Series Presents Oncologic Surgeon Dr. Jovita Oruwari

St. Louis County Library Foundation is pleased to host an event with Dr. Jovita Oruwari, author of “Black Girls in White Coats: Black Female Doctors.”

Dr. Jovita Oruwari will be in conversation with Cillah Hall, Publisher of Gazelle Magazine. They will also be joined by St. Louis doctors who featured in the book including: Dr. Ronke Akintola, Dr. Melba Akinwande, Dr. Lannis Hall, Dr. Jade James and Dr. Leslie Scott.

The event is presented by the Arthur Gale Medical Arts Lecture Series. 

The event will take place on Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the Florissant Valley Branch,195 New Florissant Rd. S., Florissant, MO 63031. The program is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event. 

Black women make up less than 5% of all physicians in the United States, while studies have shown that African American patients fare better when their healthcare provider is African American. Unfortunately, many young Black girls don’t know that a career path in medicine is a possibility. 

Dr Jovita Ugochi Oruwari is a board certified oncologic breast surgeon in St Louis. She has been a practicing physician for 20 years and has been with SSM Health DePaul Hospital since 2020.  Her book “Black Girls in White Coats” showcases 59 female African American doctors, dentists, and psychologists and serves to encourage more young Black women to pursue careers in healthcare and other STEM fields. 

The Arthur Gale Medical Arts Lecture Series at the St. Louis County Library was founded in 2015 by Dr. Arthur Gale with the purpose of increasing the public's knowledge and understanding of medicine and health care.

Program sites are accessible. With at least two weeks' notice, accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Call 314-994-3300 or contact us.