16. Dr. Glenn Wakam - General Surgery Resident University of Michigan. An Open Conversation on Race in America

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Dr. Glenn Wakam is a General Surgery Resident at the University of Michigan. He has been one of the many healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines during the COVID-19 Crisis in America working to keep those inflicted with the illness safe. A witness to the heartbreaking conditions created by the pandemic, Glenn co-authored a moving piece titled “Not Dying Alone - Modern Compassionate Care in the COVID-19 Pandemic” which was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Glenn has subsequently been featured by a number of media outlets, including CNN, among others.

Prior to entering the medical field Glenn was a standout multi-sport athlete in highschool and played Defensive Back at Princeton University. He also holds the slightly less enviable title of being Ken’s college roommate his Senior Year. With a friendship that has spanned nearly 13 years, Glenn and Ken broach a topic previously undiscussed between the two and have an open conversation about race and racism in america. This special conversation is motivated by the traumatic passing of George Floyd and the state of civil unrest that has unused and was done in an attempt to help further the conversation in hopes of creating understanding. To that end, Glenn kindly joins the show to share his experience growing up as a black man in today’s United States and how after becoming a husband and father, believes it’s more imperative than ever that we engage in conversation and work jointly towards a brighter future. 

We hope this conversation might help you expand your understanding of the issue of race in america and offer a first hand perspective as to why there is still much work to be done. 

Follow Glenn: 

Twitter: @DocWak https://twitter.com/docwak?lang=en

Mentioned In the Show:

Books: White Fragility - https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EJYB0AQGHOZC&dchild=1&keywords=white+fragility&qid=1591662103&s=books&sprefix=white+fragi%2Caps%2C190&sr=1-1

How to be an Anti-Racist:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TT85KLQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Follow The Professional Athlete Podcast with Ken Gunter:  

Instagram: @the_professionalathlete

Website: Kengunter.com 

Produced By: Justin Gunter, Ken Gunter

Music By: Justin Gunter, Ken Gunter