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The majority of school textbooks and “History”
only mention Anglo-American scientists as significant contributors
to the field of medicine. To discredit this belief, “history”
enlightens people, forcing them to realize that African-Americans
also played an important part in the development of the field of
medicine. Due to their inventions, break-through research and years
of service to the medical and educational needs of others, I believe
Dr. Rebecca J. Cole, Dr. Mae Jemison, Dr. Vivien Thomas, and Dr.
Daniel Hale Williams are just four of the many African American
scientists who are excellent proof that blacks certainly took part
in the advancement of the medical field.
The contributions of African-American scientists such as Dr. Rebecca
J. Cole, Dr. Mae Jemison, Dr. Vivien Thomas, and Dr. Daniel Hale
Williams helped to improve the health care and education of others
as well as to give hope and inspiration to young black people everywhere.
Dr. Rebecca J. Cole, the second black female to earn a Md. Ph.D.,
dedicated 50 years in medicine and social activitism. In fact from
1972-1881, Dr. Cole worked as a sanitary visitor with Dr. Elizabeth
Blackwell, in order to educate the families living in the “slums”
about hygiene, prenatal and infant care(1). Dr. Cole would personally
visit the homes of underprivileged families to teach them how to
improve their health status and living condition. In doing so, Dr.
Cole helped to decrease the likelihood of disease and to increase
the knowledge of self-care.
Another African-American contributor was Dr. Mae Jemison, the first
black female in space. The experiments Dr. Jemison began September
12, 1992 on the STS-47 Space lab J flight provided important information
in the life sciences and in the Bone Cell Research (2). NASA and
other research scientists now use the information Dr. Jemison collected
to improve the health of astronauts during the duration of their
space flight and because of her work they better understood the
structure and function of bone cells.
The research that Dr. Viven Thomas conducted created a life-saving,
medical invention. With the assistance of Alfred Blalock, Dr. Thomas
pioneered the surgical connection of the subclavian artery to the
pulmonary artery(3).” The results of this research were the
creation of the Blalock-Taussig shunt, a procedure to save infants
from “blue baby syndrome,” a disease that restricted
blood flow to the lungs. The Blalock-Taussig shunt was first performed
November 29, 1944 by Dr. Helen Taussig and Dr. Alfred Blalock(3).
This surgical procedure enables doctors to prevent chronic circulatory
failure from taking the lives of many newborn infants. Dr. Thomas’
research also introduced new applications in treatment for plasma
and blood during World War II(3).
Similarly, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams conducted another medical first.
In 1893, Dr. Williams became the first doctor to perform open heart
surgery after withdrawing a knife from the victim of a stab wound
to the heart. This amazing feat increased research and practice
in the area of open heart surgery(4). This procedure, as well as
research in open heart surgery, was then used to save the lives
of those suffering from an ailment of the heart.
From ingenious inventions to significant research, African American
involvement in medicine has brought more than diversity, but also
great progress. The research and experiments performed by Black
scientist opened new fields of interest in medicine and increased
knowledge on existing subjects in medicine. Dr. Rebecca J. Cole,
Dr. Mae Jemison, Dr. Vivien Thomas, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and
many other scientists have not only discredited many of the negative
stereotypes of African-American intelligence, ambition, and potential,
but also paved the way for the next generation of bright and aspiring
minorities interested in pursing a career in medicine.
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