The Doctor and the DJ with Dr. Khaalisha Ajala

Dr. Ajala is a #CoolSoror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is an internal medical doctor.  But her life is so much more than that.  She did know however, that at a very young age that helping others with their health would be part of the journey.

As a native of Baltimore, MD she learned about the story of Charles Drew, a renowned doctor who passed away from the very thing he perfected.  His life and his demise inspired her to want to help people in any way possible (6:30). 

A graduate of Tennessee State University, has found a way to blend her love of hip hop, deejaying and medical profession to create her own nonprofit, Heartbeats and Hip Hop.  Her mother was a direct influence for her love of not only hip hop music, but its rich culture.  So much so that she would use lyrics and verses to help her memorize medical terminology while she was in medical school (10:10). 

She talks deeply about the health disparities in many communities as well as the lack of trust among people of color within the medical community (12:30). Heartbeats and Hip Hop seeks to build a report with people in the community through their programming (21:30). 

Dr.  Ajala says, “The issue with the inferiority complex that has hovered over the Black community has trickled into our health.”  She speaks to breaking the barriers of trying to convince people of color that they are worthy of receiving the best treatment (23:19).

Her plight to connect with millennials involves incorporating hip hop artists and the fight that many of them have had with their health.  The college tours have been eye-opening to so many students by giving them real life situations that they can relate to (27:00).

The Doctor and The DJ is navigating her way through this life,  on her own terms.  She’s doing it through the cadence of the beat: on the turntables and through the hearts.

www.heartbeatshiphop.org