ABOUT The 15 White Coats
I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.-Rosa Parks
Looking for our own inspiration to cope with and overcome the challenges medical school often presents, we decided a visit outside our comfort zone might refocus us; December 14, 2019 was the day The 15 White Coats was birthed into the world at Whitney Plantation, where we took the now viral photos. The photos captured the essence, strength, and boldness of 15 White Coats. We are a group of medical students who have recognized that we have responsibility to affect change. We are not just photos that have gone viral. We are devoted, insightful, determined leaders who are committing to reimagining what children from our communities see. We want them to know they are brilliant, talented, have worth, loved, and there is a future for them. The 15 White Coats emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.
MEET THE 15 WHITE COATS
RUSSELL J. LEDET, PH.D.
President and Manager
Russell J. Ledet hails from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended Southern University and A&M College for his undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry. Afterwards, he went on to complete his Ph.D. in molecular oncology at New York University. He is currently a second-year MD-MBA student at Tulane University School of Medicine and A.B. Freeman School of Business.
SYDNEY LABAT
Vice President and Manager
Sydney Labat hails from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. She attended Xavier University of Louisiana, for her undergraduate degree in biology (pre-med). She is currently a second-year MD student at Tulane University School of Medicine.
RACHEL M. TURNER
Director of Social Media Management and Manager
Rachel M. Turner hails from Houston, Texas. She attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate degree in biology, as well as her MA in Social Foundations of Health. She subsequently completed her MS in Cell and Molecular Biology at Tulane University. Rachel is currently a second-year MD student at the Tulane University School of Medicine.
CHRISTEN BROWN
MANAGER
Christen Brown is currently an MD candidate at Tulane University School of Medicine and hails from Fort Lauderdale, FL. She attended Harvard College for undergraduate studies and went on to receive her MS in Pharmacology from Tulane University School of Medicine. She will be the first physician in her family upon graduation from Tulane.
TIVONA BATIESTE
Tivona Batieste is from Rialto, CA. She attended University of California, Riverside for her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. She is currently a first-year MD student at Tulane University.
JESSICA MECKLOSKY
Jessica Mecklosky is from Sea Cliff, New York. For her undergraduate degree, she attended Northeastern University studying Behavioral Neuroscience. She is currently a second-year MD student at Tulane University School of Medicine.
MASHLI FLEURESTIL
Director of Finance and Manager
Mashli Fleurestil was born in Miami, FL and currently resides in New Orleans, LA. She is a first year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. Prior to matriculation at Tulane Med, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and her MS in Pharmacology degree at Tulane. Mashli is interested in either cardiology or oncology as a medical specialty.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
– Maya Angelou
JASMINE L. TAYLOR
Jasmine L. Taylor hails from Bowie, MD. She attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate degree in Medicine, Health, and Society. She went on to receive an MS in Human Nutrition from Columbia University. She is currently a second-year MD-MBA student at Tulane University School of Medicine and A.B. Freeman School of Business.
CARRIE E. CROOK
Carrie E. Crook hails from Mobile, AL. She attended the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree in Health and Societies. Carrie is currently a second-year MD-MPH (Health Policy and Management) student at Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
ALEXANDRIA JONES
Alexandria Jones is a first year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. Alex was born and raised in Dallas, TX, and she graduated from Dartmouth College in 2016. Alex is currently interested in pursuing a career in Psychiatry or possibly Emergency Medicine. She feels passionately about health, art, music, and cultivating community.
The secret of life is to have no fear; it’s the only way to function.
– Stokely Carmichael
ADEDOYIN 'DOYIN' JOHNSON, PH.D.
Adedoyin ‘Doyin’ Johnson is currently a second-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. She is from Nigeria and got an undergraduate degree from DePauw University, Indiana. Before medical school, she completed a PhD degree in biomedical sciences at Tulane University. Doyin is currently interested in internal medicine and hopes to be a cardiologist.
RACHEL TRUSTY
Rachel hails from St. Rose, Louisiana. She attended Johns Hopkins University for her undergraduate degree in Public Health, as well as her MHS in Environmental Health. She subsequently completed her MS in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University. She is currently a first-year MD student at the Tulane University School of Medicine.
A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.
-Nelson Mandela
TIANA RODDY
Tiana Roddy is from Los Angeles, California. She attended the University of Maryland, College Park to obtain her undergraduate degree in Animal Science. Tiana is currently a first-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine.
JEAN LAFONTANT
Jean Lafontant attended Columbia University for his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. He is currently a second-year MD-MPH (Epidemiology) student at Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
JAZIRA ZIGLAR
Jasira Ziglar hails from Connecticut. She attended New York University for her undergraduate degree in Accounting. She went on to complete a pre-health post-baccalaureate program at the University of Pennsylvania. Jasira is currently a first-year MD student at Tulane University School of Medicine.
Brian Washington, Jr.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Brian Washington, Jr. is a New Orleans native. After working as an entrepreneur for over three year he was inspired to pursue medicine to address the health disparities within his community. He is currently a senior at the University of New Orleans andapplying to medical school. Ps he is not in the iconic photos because he was the one behind the lens.
