In March, the Disney Channel debuted a new animated series ‘Doc McStuffins,’ a look into the life and adventures of a six-year-old African-American girl with dreams of becoming a physician and the magic to heal sick and injured toys. The show was an instant success, and was renewed for a second season earlier this month.

But the show’s magic extends far beyond making toys feel all better. For several female physicians with alumnae ties to Xavier University of Louisiana, the show represents a cultural shift in the way society acknowledges black women in the medical industry – a shift that is quickly gaining national attention.

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