Dr. Russell Ledet, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., shares his remarkable journey from digging through dumpsters as a child to becoming a triple board resident at IU Health. In this powerful episode of The Freedom Forum, host Angela B. Freeman explores how Dr. Ledet’s time in the U.S. Navy, his experience at an HBCU, and his pursuit of advanced education shaped his commitment to leadership, equity and service.

He discusses founding The 15 White Coats, fostering culturally relevant literacy, launching Reels and Roots, and developing an AI-powered mental health app to bridge communication between parents and teens. Dr. Ledet also reflects on how Indiana can build a more inclusive future in healthcare leadership.