Dr. Maxine Owusu hopes to diversify medicine through creative toys

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Black women comprise less than 3% of active physicians in the United States, but Atlanta-based ER physician Dr. Maxine Owusu is on a mission to increase diversity in healthcare. For her, that mission begins with the children. Stem Kiddos is a plush human anatomy toy (above), created by Owusu, that aims to be a fun, visual aid for children to learn the names, locations, sizes, and shapes of the main body organs. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceStem Kiddos is a plush human anatomy toy, created by Owusu, that aims to be a fun, visual aid for children to learn the names, locations, sizes, and shapes of the main body organs. It also acts as a backpack so kids can continue their learning from the comfort of their homes to the halls of their school/daycare. Owusu is also the author of “Curious Rosie: A Trip to the Hospital,” the first book of a series that introduces young readers to the diverse and vital roles of healthcare professionals. In the book, all the physicians are women of different ethnicities.& & Through partnerships with schools and nonprofits, Owusu is igniting a passion for healthcare...