A Black emergency room doctor is speaking out after a patient refused treatment from her and other Black colleagues—an experience she documented in a viral video that someone later tried to use to get her fired.
Dr. Helene, known on social media as @helene_the_queen, shared a powerful testimony on Instagram on April 27, describing how a video she posted about being racially discriminated against by a patient almost cost her a spot in her residency program.
“Someone really tried to get me FIRED from residency… for speaking the TRUTH,” Dr. Helene wrote in her post, which has quickly gained attention from supporters across the medical field and beyond.
The video, originally shared on Instagram, shows a patient refusing care from Black medical staff—including Dr. Helene—purely based on their race. The post highlights a reality that, according to Dr. Helene, many Black healthcare professionals still face in 2025.
“Somebody got real mad about that truth [and] sent the video to the head of the hospital,” she said in her accompanying video, calling out the ongoing discomfort society seems to have when confronted with racism in healthcare. “You’re uncomfortable with my reality as a Black woman physician in America?”
But instead of facing punishment, Dr. Helene said her residency program supported her completely.
“They were like, ‘Wow, the internet is wild, but you—you’re an amazing resident. We’re proud of you and we’re happy to have you here,’” she recalled. “I’ll never forget that.”
Her message resonated far beyond personal vindication. In both her caption and video, she explained that racial bias in healthcare is not an isolated incident.
“You cannot censor Black voices just because the truth makes you uncomfortable,” she stated. “This isn’t just my story—it’s the experience of too many Black healthcare professionals,” she said.
From physicians to nurses, therapists, and techs, Dr. Helene urged viewers to recognize how systemic racism continues to affect professionals across the healthcare spectrum.
“It’s 2025, and THIS is still happening? Y’all better start checking those biases,” she concluded.
Her bravery in sharing the experience has been praised online, not only for exposing a persistent issue but for modeling how institutions should stand behind those who speak up against discrimination.
