On September 2, students, faculty, staff listened tentatively to Dr. Damon Tweedy, who did his first reading of his book “Black Man in a White Coat.” His book examines the complex ways in which both black doctors and patients must navigate the difficult and often contradictory terrain of race and medicine.

Following the reading, Tweedy had vivid discussions with SAU students.

“The students asked insightful questions that explored how Mr. Tweedy’s life lessons as a medical student could help them in their career paths of today,” said Tiwanna Nevels, director of the University’s Library Services, who attended the reading, “One such lesson he boasts was when a professor mistakes him for the handyman to come and change the classroom light bulbs. Although upset, he doesn’t make a fuss, rather he triumphs by earning the second-highest grade on the final exam. He then went on to share with the students that the same professor was so impressed that he offered him a job and but Tweedy declined.”

Dr. Tweedy is a graduate of Duke Medical School and Yale Law School. He is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and staff physician at the Durham VA Medical Center.

To learn more about “Black Man in a White Coat,” visit http://www.damontweedy.com.