Discover
AboutView Interactive Map
Donate
Donate
View Calendar
View Calendar

Medicine

Discover Black women's legacies month by month. Explore history's milestones and celebrate the remarkable achievements of influential figures.

Rebecca Crumpler shattered a glass ceiling in 1864 when she became the first Black woman physician in the United States. However, in 2024, the lack of representation of Black women in medicine persists as they account for only 2.8% of all physicians. The presence of Black women in medicine is crucial for providing culturally competent care, tackling health inequities in Black communities, and driving nuanced advancements across diverse patient populations. The journey to becoming a physician includes nurturing a strong STEM foundation, understanding the prerequisites and application process for medical school, preparing for critical exams like the MCAT, developing a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and physiology, and seeking mentorship from experienced professionals. In this feature, exceptional Gastroenterologist Dr. Gia Landry shares her personal story and discusses what led her to pursue a career in medicine, offering valuable insights for aspiring Black women physicians and honoring the legacy of trailblazers like Dr. Crumpler. [Click Here]

‍

Go Back To View All
Filter by Name
Clear
Filter by Category
Clear
Category
Filter by Date
Clear
Date
Filter by State
Clear
State
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Tag
Showing 0 of 150
Jan 1
January
Medicine
Science
Dr. Jessie Isabelle Price
Dr. Price (1930-2015), the "Duck Doctor," was an eminent veterinary microbiologist and an authority on avian diseases, particularly those affecting ducks and other waterfowl. She conducted extensive research on parasites, infections, viruses, and microbial diseases that impacted these birds and developed vaccines to protect them against a spectrum of diseases. Dr. Price's vaccines have been used by duck, turkey, and pigeon farmers across North America.
Pennsylvania
Jan 19
January
Medicine
Anna Louise James
No items found.
Feb 7
February
Medicine
Dr. Emma Rochelle Wheeler
Dr. Wheeler and her husband opened a hospital.
Florida
Feb 8
February
Medicine
Rebecca Lee Crumpler
No items found.
Feb 27
February
Medicine
Millie E. Hale
Hale (1881-1930) and her husband, John Henry Hale, converted their home into a hospital for black patients.
Tennessee
Mar 20
March
Military
Medicine
Catholic
Nadja West
Lieutenant General Nadja West (ret.) was the 44th Surgeon General of the United States Army.
No items found.
Mar 24
March
Civil Rights
Medicine
Amanda Gray Hilyer
Kansas
Apr 4
April
Medicine
Mildred Fay Jefferson
The first Black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School (1951) and the first woman employed as a surgeon at Boston University Medical Center. Pro Life.
Texas
Apr 16
April
Medicine
Georgie E. Lee Patton
Tennessee
Apr 24
April
Medicine
Military
Aviation
Science
Yvonne Cagle
Cagle (1959) is a Physician, U.S. Air Force Colonel (ret.), NASA astronaut, and educator.
New York
May 1
May
Medicine
Science
Jane Hinton
No items found.
May 7
May
Medicine
Nursing
Suffrage
Civil Rights
Baptist
Mary Eliza Mahoney
Mary was the first licensed African American nurse in the United States and first African American graduate of an American nursing school. She was born in the spring of 1845 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to freed, formerly enslaved people who relocated from North Carolina for a chance at better civil and economic opportunities for their family.
Massachusetts
Aug 1
August
Medicine
Henrietta Lacks
Lacks (1920-1951) is the source of the HeLa "immortal" cell line, one of the most important human cell lines in the history of medical research. Lacks's cells, taken without her knowledge or consent, transformed the landscape of modern medicine, while Lacks herself remained long deprived of recognition and recompense.
Virginia
Aug 6
August
Medicine
Susie King Taylor
Nurse and Memoirist
Georgia
Aug 13
August
Medicine
Government
Jocelyn Elders, Surgeon General
Elders (1933) was the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, a Pediatrician, and Public Health Administrator.
Arkansas
Sep 8
September
Medicine
Educator
Ionia Rollin Whipper
South Carolina
Sep 17
September
Medicine
Educator
Catholic
Lena Frances Edwards
Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Washington D.C.
Oct 10
October
Medicine
Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee
Virginia
Oct 17
October
Science
Medicine
Author
Dr. Mae Jemison
Physician, NASA Astronaut, Author, Chemical Engineer, avid Star Trek fan, and the first Black woman to travel into Space, flight STS-47, Spacelab-J.
Alabama
Oct 17
October
Medicine
AME
Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson
Pennsylvania
Oct 26
October
Medicine
Government
Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General
18th Surgeon General of the United States
No items found.
Nov 1
November
Medicine
Caroline Still Anderson
Pennsylvania
Nov 4
November
Medicine
Educator
Patricia Bath
New York
Nov 7
November
Medicine
Dr. Alexa Irene Canady
Dr. Canady (1950) is a retired Pediatric Neurosurgeon, researcher, and professor. In 1981, she became the first Black woman neurosurgeon. She was the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan from 1987 until 2001.
Michigan
No results found.
There are no results with this criteria. Try changing your search.

Stay Inspired Daily!

Sign up to receive daily notifications celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black women throughout history.

Sign Up
Sign Up
AboutView Interactive MapDonateView CalendarContact