This summer, Howard University’s campus is brimming with fulfillment, curiosity, opportunity and purpose. Dormitory halls are now home to ambitious high school-aged Black boys from across the country, eager to embrace six weeks
of learning, service, and networking. These bright young scholars are part of the Young Doctors Project (YDP), an immersive program that introduces them to careers in medicine at an early age while cultivating a pathway grounded in community empowerment, brotherhood, leadership, and mentorship.
Founded in 2012 by Dr. Malcolm Woodland, a visionary psychologist and proud Howard University alum, and Dr. Torian Easterling, a committed public health advocate, the Young Doctors Project emerged from a bold desire to combat health disparities and equip young black men with tools for success. By placing representation and access at the heart of their mission, they’re showing young people how far they can go and reminding them that their dreams are valid. “When you have someone who’s walked the path before you, it changes everything,” Woodland shares. “We wanted to open that door, to be a bridge.”
That bridge reaches far beyond health, science, and medicine. Inspired by his Anacostia neighborhood, where young people often stood at the intersection of hope, hardship, and resilience, Woodland envisioned young men as community health leaders. He set the tone for rewriting the narrative from one incarceration to one of education, healing, and possibility. The vision is clear: rewrite the story and forge a route defined by dignity.
YDP’s academic model offers comprehensive,
year-round enrichment: Saturday academies throughout the school year, hands-on experiences in health clinics serving underserved communities, college tours, and the cornerstone summer institute at Howard University. Participants don white coats not as symbols of status, but as emblems of purpose and commitment, and the transformation is undeniable.
A recent graduate from D.C., Kasein Tate is now headed to Morehouse College with dreams of becoming a cardiologist, a vision sparked during his freshman year after meeting Dr. Woodland and joining the Young Doctors Project. Initially uncertain about his future, Kasein saw medicine as a promising path, inspired by his love of science and math. What began as curiosity quickly evolved into purpose, as the program’s mentors helped him see new possibilities. Their expertise, empathy, patience, active listening, and passion for teaching made Kasein feel truly seen, heard, and supported.
During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kasein struggled to open up, but joining YDP became a turning point. With its emphasis on empathy, mental health, and creating a safe space, the program gave him room to heal, connect, and grow.
Kasein’s journey came full circle at YDP’s 13th Annual White Coat Ceremony, where he was honored as “Young Doc of the Year,” an award chosen by both his mentors and peers. Reflecting on the impact of that moment, Easterling shares, “That ceremony… it solidifies everything. The young men walk taller. The parents cry. And the community shows up asking, ‘How can I get involved?’”
For another Young Doctor, Phillip St. Vil Jr., the program has sparked a newfound sense of pride and joy. “When we go to health fairs wearing our white coats, people treat us like celebrities,” he shares. “ Everyone applauds and asks for photos, it’s surprising and almost unreal. “It makes me feel valued.”
The program boasts a 91 percent college enrollment rate, a number Woodland is proud of, yet one that doesn’t signal a finish line. “That remaining 9 percent matters deeply. We want to ensure no one is left behind,” he says. “With more resources, we can reach them.”
To keep the opportunity within reach for all, YDP remains free to every participant, covering all costs for room and board, meals,
travel, and materials. Mentorship is the cornerstone for both career development and personal growth. Doctors, educators, and professionals generously contribute their time and expertise, not for compensation, but out of love for the mission.
After hearing Dr. Woodland speak on a recent radio broadcast, Dr. Raymond Young, a board-certified cardiologist and native Washingtonian, was so moved that he felt compelled to join the mission. “It felt wrong not to be involved,” he said. “Everything about it, college tours, giving back, it’s revolutionary.”
Reinforcing a cycle of empowerment, growth, and dedication, graduates returned to mentor the next generation, passing down wisdom, motivation, and the spirit of the Young Doctors Project.
Woodland dreams of permanence of a legacy that endures, of a movement that outlives him, of safe spaces where Black boys can grow, lead, and thrive long after he’s gone. “I want YDP to become an institution, something that exists in multiple cities, even after I’m gone. It’s about cultivating spaces where Black boys can safely and intellectually thrive.”
That dream reaches closer to reality as chapters are thriving in New York, D.C., and Roanoke, with plans to expand to Seattle. It’s the heart of the program that leaves a lasting impression, not the clinics, textbooks, but the support, passion, and shared mission that bind together.
“I feel lucky to be here,” Phillip says. “There’s nothing like this program anywhere else.”
Kasein agrees. “They don’t get paid. They sacrifice vacation time. They show up because they care. And that makes this space feel safe.”
YDP invites young Black men to see themselves as scholars, healers, and leaders. It binds them in a community where academic achievement and personal growth are celebrated. It’s a reminder that real change begins with someone who believes in your possibility.
Visit youngdoctorsdc.org to learn more or support the Young Doctors Project.
