Black Figures in Medical History
The UK College of Medicine chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is commemorating Black History Month by curating educational information about the Black community's impact in medicine.
This week, SNMA is highlighting four trailblazing Black physicians and health care workers from American history who paved the way for an equitable future.
Sources:
https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/celebrating-10-african-american-medical-pioneers
Wikipedia (respective pages)
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
James McCune Smith, MD (1813 — 1865)
James McCune Smith, MD, lived an impressive life full of groundbreaking accomplishments.
In 1837, he became the first Black American to receive a medical degree, although he had to enroll at the University of Glasgow Medical School due to racist admissions practices at U.S. medical schools. While in Scotland, Dr. Smith joined the Glasgow Emancipation Society, an organization that helped to fund his education. He also completed a medical internship in Paris.
Dr. Smith returned to New York City, where he not only became the first Black person to own and operate a medical office and a pharmacy, but also where he quickly emerged as a powerful anti-slavery and anti-racism organizer, orator, and writer. Throughout his career Dr. Smith used his writing talents to challenge inaccurate science, including racist notions of African-Americans. He even debunked such theories in Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia.
Dr. Smith returned to New York City, where he not only became the first Black person to own and operate a medical office and a pharmacy, but also where he quickly emerged as a powerful anti-slavery and anti-racism organizer, orator, and writer. Throughout his career Dr. Smith used his writing talents to challenge inaccurate science, including racist notions of African-Americans. He even debunked such theories in Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler, MD (1831 — 1895)
In 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman in the United States to receive an MD. She graduated from the New England Female Medical College in Boston as the institution’s only Black graduate.
Dr. Crumpler moved to Richmond, Va., not long after the Civil War ended. There, she worked with other Black doctors who were caring for formerly enslaved people in the Freedmen’s Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands that provided aid to newly freed African Americans as they transitioned from slavery to freedom.
Despite facing sexism and other forms of harassment, she considered the experience to be life-changing, writing, "I returned to my former home, Boston, where I entered into the work with renewed vigor, practicing outside, and receiving children in the house for treatment; regardless, in a measure, of remuneration."
Dr. Crumpler also wrote A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts. Published in 1883, the book addresses children’s and women’s health and is written for “mothers, nurses, and all who may desire to mitigate the afflictions of the human race.”
(No known photograph of Dr. Crumpler was available.)
Despite facing sexism and other forms of harassment, she considered the experience to be life-changing, writing, "I returned to my former home, Boston, where I entered into the work with renewed vigor, practicing outside, and receiving children in the house for treatment; regardless, in a measure, of remuneration."
Dr. Crumpler also wrote A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts. Published in 1883, the book addresses children’s and women’s health and is written for “mothers, nurses, and all who may desire to mitigate the afflictions of the human race.”
(No known photograph of Dr. Crumpler was available.)
Daniel Hale Williams, MD (1856 – 1931)
Daniel Hale Williams, MD, had a successful and noteworthy career in medicine. In 1891, Dr. Williams opened Provident Hospital, the first medical facility to have an interracial staff. He was also one of the first physicians to successfully complete pericardial surgery on a patient.
Dr. Williams would go on to become chief surgeon of the Freedmen’s Hospital. In 1895, he co-founded the National Medical Association, a professional organization for Black medical practitioners, as an alternative to the American Medical Association, which didn’t allow African-American membership.
Later in life Dr. Williams made annual trips to Nashville, where he spent his time as a voluntary visiting clinical professor at Meharry Medical College for more than two decades. He became a charter member of the American College of Surgeons in 1913.
Dr. Williams passed away in 1931 though his legacy of medical excellence continues to this day. His work as a pioneering physician and advocate for an African-American presence in medicine continues to be honored by institutions across the world.
Later in life Dr. Williams made annual trips to Nashville, where he spent his time as a voluntary visiting clinical professor at Meharry Medical College for more than two decades. He became a charter member of the American College of Surgeons in 1913.
Dr. Williams passed away in 1931 though his legacy of medical excellence continues to this day. His work as a pioneering physician and advocate for an African-American presence in medicine continues to be honored by institutions across the world.
Charles Richard Drew, MD (1904 — 1950)
Charles Richard Drew, MD, was known as the “father of blood banking,” after pioneering blood preservation techniques that led to thousands of lifesaving blood donations. Dr. Drew’s doctoral research explored best practices for banking and transfusions, and its insights helped him establish the first large-scale blood banks.
Dr. Drew directed the Blood for Britain project, which shipped much-needed plasma to England during World War II and the first American Red Cross Blood Bank. The bloodmobiles in use today were inspired by the mobile blood donation stations he created. After protesting the American Red Cross’ policy of segregating blood by race, he ultimately resigned from the organization.
Dr. Drew is most widely known for his work in blood preservation, but his true passion was surgery. He was appointed chairman of the department of surgery and chief of surgery at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he made significant efforts to support young African-Americans pursuing careers in the field.
Dr. Drew directed the Blood for Britain project, which shipped much-needed plasma to England during World War II and the first American Red Cross Blood Bank. The bloodmobiles in use today were inspired by the mobile blood donation stations he created. After protesting the American Red Cross’ policy of segregating blood by race, he ultimately resigned from the organization.
Dr. Drew is most widely known for his work in blood preservation, but his true passion was surgery. He was appointed chairman of the department of surgery and chief of surgery at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he made significant efforts to support young African-Americans pursuing careers in the field.
Learn More about SNMA at UK:
The Student National Medical Association has organizations at the local (UK), state, and national levels and is the oldest and largest student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of underrepresented race/ethnic identities. The mission further focuses on meeting the health needs of underserved communities.
The Student National Medical Association has organizations at the local (UK), state, and national levels and is the oldest and largest student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of underrepresented race/ethnic identities. The mission further focuses on meeting the health needs of underserved communities.
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Website - https://med.uky.edu/student-national-medical-association
Instagram - @ukcom_snma
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SNMAUKCOM/