As February marks National Black History Month in the United States, it is important to recognize the contributions of Black Americans to healthcare, starting from slavery and continuing to this day. Black history is American history, and we should celebrate the triumphs despite the challenges endured along the way. Let's take a look at Black History in healthcare throughout the years:
1700s – The idea of vaccinations was brought to America by an enslaved man named Onesimus in the early 1700s. Onesimus informed his enslaver that he had contracted smallpox in Africa, and that it would forever protect him from the deadly effects of smallpox in the future. The enslaver took this knowledge and, with the help of a doctor, implemented an inoculation method called variolation on the people of Boston. In 1796, the first official vaccine was created from this foundation, but the initial idea that Onesimus inspired earlier saved countless lives during a smallpox outbreak in Boston.
1800s – James McCune Smith was the first African-American to earn a medical degree. His mother was a slave, but he was born free, allowing him to pursue education. However, due to systemically racist policies, Smith was prohibited from attending medical school in the United States. He earned his medical degree in Scotland, then returned to the U.S. to become the first African-American to publish medical research in a scientific journal. Smith was an abolitionist who used his medical experience to help refute racist ideas about "scientific" differences between races, and fought for medical equity despite race.
Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black nurse to graduate from an American Nursing school in 1879 and be fully and professionally licensed as a nurse. She utilized her nursing career to advocate for equal care and anti-discrimination for African-Americans pursuing healthcare.
1900s – Dr. Charles Richard Drew was an African American surgeon who developed methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized the first large-scale blood bank in the United States, allowing medics to save thousands of Allies lives during World War II. He also strongly advocated against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, noting that it lacked scientific foundation.
Current – Kizzmekia Corbett is an African American viral immunologist who was an instrumental lead scientist in the team that developed the COVID-19 vaccine. Corbett was already researching a similar vaccine for SARS and MERS, and it only took her a few hours to use her research to provide a modified sequence for the new COVID-19 vaccine. The National Institute of Health (NIH) shared that sequence with the vaccine developer Moderna. Pfizer then used the same vaccine sequence to develop their COVID-19 vaccine, and today Corbett’s work has saved countless lives.
These brilliant minds and many others have contributed to shaping and improving the healthcare system in the United States. Today, Black Americans continue to enhance healthcare in various capacities, from caregiving to CNAs, nurses, doctors, scientists, psychiatrists, and everything in between.
Let us also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of The Gateway-In Project© graduates who identify as Black, African-American, or African.
“My experience with the training program has been amazingly great! It has opened up many doors and opportunities that I never thought would be possible and available for me…I will be sending my kids to their program.”
“It was a very easy but also challenging experience…I was recently hired in a nursing home and I’m just remembering everything [Miss Mary Cotton] taught me and I’m applying it at my job to give total care!”
"I recently completed the 3-month Certified Nursing Assistant program at ProCareer Academy, and I can't sing its praises enough!... The program itself was fantastic, covering a wide range of essential nursing skills that have prepared me well for my future career. From basic patient care to vital sign assessment and other essential skills, we learned it all!”