As we celebrate African American History Month, I hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about the many contributions people of color have made and continue to make to medicine and health care.
Allow me to share the accomplishments of a few African Americans who led the way:
- James McCune Smith, MD. First Black man to practice with a medical degree in the U.S. McCune Smith was an American physician, abolitionist, and author. He earned his medical degree from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1837, and returned to New York as the first Black man in the U.S. to hold and practice with a medical degree. He was also the first Black physician to establish and run a pharmacy. Dr. McCune Smith used his training in medicine and statistics to refute misconceptions about race, intelligence, medicine, and society in general.
- Mary Mahoney, RN. First Black woman awarded a nursing degree. Mahoney is credited as America's first Black professional nurse. She graduated from Boston-based New England Hospital for Women and Children's training school for nurses in 1879 and became one of the first Black members of the American Nurses Association. In addition to her pioneering efforts in nursing, Ms. Mahoney is recognized for her role in the women's suffrage movement. She was among the first women to register to vote in Boston after the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920.
- Herbert W. Nickens, MD. First director of the HHS Office of Minority Health. Nickens was an advocate for justice in medical education and healthcare equity for racial and ethnic minorities. In 1986, he became the first director of the HHS Office of Minority Health. He later became the founding vice president of the Association of American Medical Colleges community and minority programs division, now Diversity Policy and Programs. Dr. Nickens also played a key role in the association's Project 3000 by 2000, which launched in 1991 to enroll 3,000 underrepresented minority students in medical school annually by 2000.
- Barbara Ross-Lee, DO. First Black woman to be appointed dean of an American medical school. Ross-Lee is credited with helping pave pathways for minorities and women in the osteopathic profession. In 1993, Dr. Ross-Lee became the first Black woman to lead a U.S. medical school as dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of Ohio University in Athens. She held that role until 2001. She was appointed by the Institute of Medicine to join the Consensus Committee on the Governance and Financing of Graduate Medical Education in 2012. Dr. Ross-Lee graduated from the East Lansing-based Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1973.
Source: Gooch K and Haefner M www.BeckersHospitalReview.com 08 FEB 2021)