Rani G. Whitfield, M.D., a board certified family physician with a Certificate of Added Qualification in sports medicine, has become known as "Tha Hip Hop Doc" or "H2D" to many of the young adults in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he practices medicine. Dr. Whitfield is an impassioned advocate for increasing the awareness of health-related issues, including HIV/AIDS, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse.  His mission is to improve social conditions and health care services for African-American youth and parents. By combining hip-hop culture and health messages,  Dr. Whitfield empowers individuals to change unhealthy lifestyles. He is creating a solution to the health and social challenges young urban communities face by offering a forum and a voice for our youth to discover alternative solutions. He is the founder of the "Hip-Hop Medical Moment,” a one-minute audio series on pertinent medical topics. This highly sought after lecturer delivers dynamic presentations on preventative medicine, teen pregnancy, physical fitness, drugs of sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, discrepancies in health care, and diabetes. 

In his private practice, Dr. Whitfield concentrates on family medicine. Daily, he diagnoses and treats hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol problems. He performs more than 200 pre-participation physicals each year and coordinates care for athletes (insured or uninsured). Additionally, Dr. Whitfield is the medical director of both Cenikor Foundation, a long-term inpatient substance abuse treatment center, and Set Free Indeed, an outpatient faith-based substance abuse treatment center. Dr. Whitfield is also one of two physicians responsible for the health care of the inmates at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. With these, he still finds time to volunteer as team physician for the Southern University Laboratory Kittens, Southern University Men's Baseball, Southern University Women's Basketball, USA Boxing, and the 14th Street Boxing Club.

In 1996, Dr. Whitfield received a medical degree with honors from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Thereafter, he completed an internship and residency in family medicine at St Elizabeth's Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio in 1999 and a sports medicine fellowship at Ohio State University in 2000. He earned a bachelor of science degree with honors from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1992, after one year at North Florida Junior College on basketball and vocal music scholarships. 

Dr. Whitfield is an active member of the American Academy of Family Practice, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, Louisiana State Medical Society, and East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society. He is a board member of the State of Louisiana Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, Mayor Kip Holden's HIV/AIDS Task Force, Baton Rouge General Hospital Ethics Committee, Louisiana Medicare Clinical Advisory Board, Cenikor Foundation
Inc., and the American Heart Association National Board-Southeastern Affiliates. He is also a consultant for AOL Black Voices and writes a monthly column for EUR Web (www.eurweb.com). 

 Dr. Whitfield has been featured on BET's number one hip-hop show, 106 and Park, to discuss HIV, HIV testing, and World AIDS Day. He also appeared on the PBS’s Religion and Ethics Weekly and discussed faith-based and other substance abuse treatment. He also appeared on I-Village with stroke survivor and nationally acclaimed weatherman Mark McEwen discussing stroke and heart disease.  Dr. Whitfield was also the medical consultant for www.bet.com and has conducted a national online chat discussing World AIDS Day. In the most important book ever written about HIV/ AIDS in the African American community, Not In My Family, includes his views on this important topic along with those of Omar Tyree, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Byron Cage, Al Sharpton, and Patti Labelle, just to name a few.

To further his mission of educating youth through music, “Tha’ Hip-Hip Doctor” launched this website in April 2005. As a result of these efforts he appears in Time Warner's The Power Forward campaign, a communication that honors successful African Americans during Black History Month and has also received several other awards from the YMCA Black Achievers Award, American Heart Association Ambassador Award, Links Trailblazer Award.  Dr. Whitfield was the on-air health consultant for New Orleans’ "Old School" 102.9FM until Hurricane Katrina. He answered questions on HIV/AIDS awareness, sleep apnea, male pattern baldness, and cardiovascular disease. As a member of the American Heart Association, Dr. Whitfield ran a marathon and conducted a citywide "Get Dr. Whitfield Out of Jail" campaign. Both efforts used radio segments and television appearances to educate the community about heart disease and strokes. Through these efforts, he raised more than $21,000 locally to support of stroke victims. 

Despite all of his commitments to his medical practice and the community, he still finds time to pursue his hobbies. For music, Dr. Whitfield is the bass player and part-time vocalist for the R&B/Blues/Funk band "Black Ice." For his own health, he finds time to exercise independently, as well as with his personal trainer Bill Downs. He also participates with his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. in their "old school" step shows when time permits. For his sports fill, he regularly plays basketball with Rani's Rim Rocker's (his YMCA team), trains with the "old goats" on weekends at Broadmoor High School, and is currently in preparing for USA Track and Field Masters 400 meter run.  Dr. Whitfield created his own "docu-drama," A Tale of Two Soles, is working on his first book, and is in the studio with students and friends working on a musical project.  His most crowning accomplishment is his beautiful daughter Raina.


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HIV/AIDS

What's up young people?
I guess you are wondering what all the drama is about.  Well, I'm here to give it to you straight; it's all about the deadly virus called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV.  HIV is one of the many sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) that a person can get by not making wise decisions.  If you use drugs, don't wear condoms, share needles while using intravenous (IV) drugs or steroids, and/or have multiple sex partners, you are at risk of getting HIV or any of the other STD's.  You can be young or old, black or white, man or woman; it doesn't matter.  HIV does not discriminate and can KILL you.  What's really scary is that you can't tell if someone is infected just by looking at them.  So if you have any risk factors for HIV, you must get tested right away.  Take the Quiz

People that are infected with HIV can develop a syndrome called AIDS-the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.  Once a person develops AIDS, the body's ability to fight off infection is damaged and that person can become very sick and die.  Just because a person is infected with HIV does not mean they will get AIDS.  In general, even with the development of medications to help the body fight HIV, most people infected with HIV will develop AIDS.  There is not a cure or vaccine against HIV or AIDS, so prevention and protecting oneself is the key to a healthier life.

Peer pressure, immaturity, and alcohol/drug use put young people and college students at risk for getting HIV.  Drugs alter your mind and can lead to risky behaviors such as having sex with out condoms.  Don't let someone influence you to do drugs and/or have unprotected sex.  If you do, you are playing with your life. Read more.
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