Its heartbreaking because we recognize Black patients tend to do better when treated by someone who looks like them."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Racism and discrimination are nasty diseases that even Black doctors in white coats cant cure.

There have been instances when Ive gone into a patients room only to be asked wheres the real doctor, Dr. Rob Robinson said.

Robinson owns a house call physician service with his wife Dr. Karla Robinson.

Ive experienced that many times, Karla Robinson said. Wheres the real doctor. Ive even had someone to refuse my care, you know like uh uh, I rather not. That actually happened when we moved to the South.

Dr. Karla and Rob Robinson, both inner-city Chicagoans turned Charlotteans, have more than 15 years of medical experience, contributing to the small group of Black practicing physicians in the country. According to data from the Association of Medical Colleges, Black doctors make up less than 6% of practicing doctors in America. White doctors make up 56%.

Its heartbreaking because we recognize Black patients tend to do better when treated by someone who looks like them, Rob Robinson said.

Karla Robinson even reflected on a time she was discriminated against as a patient when she was pregnant.

I had a minor complication and had to go into the hospital and it was immediate suspected that I was a drug seeker, Karla Robinson said.

What made it even more hurtful for the Robinsons is this happened at the hospital Karla Robinson was training at to become a doctor.

Racism truly transcends all socioeconomics standards. What you see coming through the door is the color of our skin, not our bank accounts not our degrees, Karla Robinson said.

A study by Stanford University found Black doctors who treated Black patients were more inclined to write detailed notes, provide clear understandings of diagnoses and find holistic approaches to curing illnesses.

If a Black patient comes in with high blood pressure then it may not be lets throw medication at you," Karla Robinson said. Lets talk about some of the stressors as we live in this highly racially charged society.

Last summer, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, introduced The Expanding Medical Education Act, with the goal of narrowing the racial gap in healthcare by recruiting, enrolling and retaining Black students in medical school and providing funding to medical programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

There arent enough of us on faculty and staff to really advocate for the monitory student, Rob Robinson said. We really need to have a position at the table to be in these discussions regarding who gets admitted to medical school and about who gets admitted to medical school and really leveling the playing field so this disparity doesnt continue.

The Robinsons not only talk the talk, but they also walk the walk. The couple owns Urban House Call, a house call physician service in Charlotte. While working at local hospitals, the two hosted a radio show called Urban House Call where they would educate listeners on preventative health services and keep them in the know about health-related topics. Listeners encouraged them to open a real house call practice and they did.

Weve been doing that in a small practice since 2012 and that has also morphed into opportunities like this where we speak to the community, the media, opportunities where we are really able to get the message of health and wellness out on a much broader scale, said Dr. Karla.

Karla Robinson added, We want young people to know hey if they can be doctors I can do it too. If they can make it out of inner-city Chicago we can do it too.

Rob Robinson smiled at his wife in agreeance.

The Robinsons, a power couple with a powerful message, contributing to Black history.

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Black doctors in white coats on a mission to cure racism and discrimination in the workplace - WCNC.com