Three doctors spread message of hope to RI teachers

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PROVIDENCE – Growing up on the tough streets of Newark, NJ – one of the most crime-ridden cities in the country – three young boys decided they needed to find a way out. There were no fathers in their homes to look to for advice. They looked for other role models – athletes, musicians, artists – but realized that recreating their brand of success was unlikely.

Photo: Emily Donohue

inspiration: From left, Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt spoke to a group of educators at The Community Preparatory School in Providence April 16. They achieved their dream of becoming doctors, they said, because they became role models for each other and rose above the difficulties of growing up in single-parent families in Newark, NJ.

So, they looked to each other. The three boys made a pact while in high school that, no matter what, they would hold onto each other and work through high school, college, and medical school.

As teenagers, Drs. Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins had lofty dreams for three boys living in a city where high school dropouts are more common than college graduates. But, after years of helping each other through obstacles – financial hardships, negative influences, lapses in judgment and even a brush with the law – the three men met their goal and became doctors and role models in their community.

Today, they split their time between practicing medicine and working with their foundation, The Three Doctors, Inc., to inspire inner-city youth to achieve their goals and become educated through speaking engagements and in books where they recount their inspiring story.

The Community Preparatory School hosted the three doctors April 16 and their talk inspired a roomful of teachers and school administrators. They are the co-authors of several books, most notably “The Pact,” which chronicles their journey from the tough inner-city of Newark, NJ to medical school and beyond.

Dr. Camille Brown, the diocesan education coordinator, said that she hopes to bring the doctors back to Providence to speak to students at diocesan schools. “Any opportunity to put any positive images, any positive people in front of our children, that's something that we have to do,” she said.

During their presentation to teachers at Community Preparatory School last week they spoke about the need for children growing up in inner-city communities to choose good role models and stay focused on their education.

“They don't necessarily focus on education because they don't necessarily see that as a means to an end,” Dr. Hunt said. He said one of their goals is to show kids that education is “the most viable means to success.”

Often, they said that the students they meet choose role models like famous athletes and rappers whose success is unlikely to be repeated. “The sports player, the music video, the bling bling... why not have education be the same way?” asked Dr. Davis. He said that it is important for teachers to change the stigma associated with being a good student. “If you get an A you might be called a nerd today, but you'll be called boss tomorrow,” he said.

For the Rhode Island teachers gathered to hear the three doctors speak the talk was very impressive. “I found it inspiring,” said Louis Hebert the principal of Bishop McVinney Regional School in Providence. Many of the lessons the three doctors tried to impart about the importance of choosing good role models and friends resonated with Hebert when he thought of his students. “Their role models are unfortunately media-related and are sometimes the worst kinds of role models.... they tend to be rap people who try to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

“I think success has a lot to do with who you associate yourself with,” he added.

Hebert added that for his students it would be very beneficial to see “successful, young black men who are doing well.”

For more information about the doctors and their foundation visit www.threedoctors.com.