Honoring Black medical practitioners, health innovators and scholars this Black History Month
Every February, the U.S. celebrates Black History Month to honor the rich culture and history of Black Americans. This year’s theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” acknowledges the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners of western medicine and the contributions from “other ways of knowing” that grew out of the African Diaspora to support and protect the health and well-being of Black communities and Black Americans from the challenges posed by systemic racism.
Black feminist, activist and writer, Audre Lorde originated the concept of “self-care” in her 1988 essay collection, “A Burst of Light.” written about her battle with cancer. Her theory about radical self-care made the connection between self-care, activism and racism.
In honor of Black History Month and in accordance with this year’s theme, the ASU Graduate College has highlighted nine Black pioneers in health and wellness.
James McCune Smith (1813-1865)
Dr. James McCune Smith graduated from the University of Glasgow and was the first Black American to get a medical degree. In addition to being a successful physician, he was a prominent abolitionist, debunking racial theories in his scientific writings.
Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926)
Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black licensed nurse in the U.S. In 1908, she co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). She was inducted into the American Nurses Association’s Hall of Fame in 1976.
Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931)
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams founded the first Black-owned hospital in the U.S, which had an interracial staff, and performanced what many call the “world’s first successful heart surgery” in 1893.
Herman George Canady (1901-1970)
Herman George Canady was a clinical and social psychologist. Canady, PhD, is known for being the first psychologist to study how the race of a test proctor can create bias in IQ testing.
Jane Cooke Wright (1919-2013)
Dr. Jane Cooke Wright was a pioneer in cancer research. She was also the first Black doctor appointed to a staff position at a municipal hospital in New York City, the city’s first Black police surgeon and, in 1971, became the first woman president of the New York Cancer Society.
M. Joycelyn Elders (b. 1933)
Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders is an American physician and professor. She was the first person in the state of Arkansas to become board certified in pediatric endocrinology. Elders also was the first Black woman to serve as U.S. surgeon general.
Marilyn H. Gaston (b. 1939)
Dr. Marilyn H. Gaston was the first Black woman to direct a public health service bureau, the Bureau of Primary Health Care in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is well known for her sickle cell research, which led to a nationwide screening program to test newborns for immediate treatment.
Audre Lorde (b. 1934)
A self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Audre Lorde dedicated her life and creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. She theorized that self-care is a radical act for Black Americans because Black Americans often experience additional health and mental trauma as a result of systemic racism..
Kizzmekia S. Corbett (b. 1986)
Kizzmekia S. Corbett, PhD, is an assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Previously, she worked as a research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center where the research conducted by her and her team led to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, she is continuing her viral immunology research.
ASU is hosting a variety of events to commemorate Black History Month. Visit the ASU Black History Month events webpage for the full schedule of events. .