BLACK WOMEN, WHITE COATS: BLACK WOMEN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS' USE OF COMMUNITY CULTURAL WEALTH TO PERSIST IN HEALTHCARE CAREERS

In this qualitative, participatory action research study, we examine how six Black women undergraduate students develop, cultivate, and sustain their healthcare career aspirations while examining challenges Black women undergraduate students experience during their pursuit of a healthcare career. Using community cultural wealth to frame our study, we collected two interviews per participant along with participant-generated photographs. We found that student participants experienced multiple forms of oppression, financial challenges, and lack of access to academic resources, but they were able to persist through support from family, faculty, and peers, along with faith-based practices and creative arts. Findings provide insights for higher education leaders, STEM and health sciences faculty, and the healthcare industry to advance equity for Black women pursuing healthcare careers.