William Sangster, MD, Values Inclusion and Progress

William Sangster, MD, is a colon and rectal surgery and general surgery physician with Lehigh Valley Health Network. He provides services at Colon-Rectal Surgery Associates. During Black History Month, he looks back at the strong history of Black and African American contributions and forward to what more can be done.

For me, Black History Month means a time of reflection. It’s a time to not only remember the important contributions of those who were brave enough to invoke change and advancement, but also a time to realize the work is not done and we need to continue to progress.

I knew from the beginning that a journey in medicine would not be easy, and there were definitely trials. However, it was always ingrained in me to never give up and to keep moving forward. I was appreciative of the sacrifices that were made for me to get to the point where I was, and I strive to not take those sacrifices lightly.

I would advise colleagues to please take the time to acknowledge the history of this country, acknowledge the contributions of those who promoted change and continue to promote a message of inclusion throughout future generations.