Black History Month Health Pioneers
February is Black History Month. It is a month to celebrate the countless contributions African Americans have made throughout the history of this country. These individuals have been champions in every field. This month we want to recognize the accomplishments that African Americans have made in the area of health. Join us each day to celebrate the achievements of these health pioneers!
February 1
Wise words, Dr. Martin Luther King.
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February 2
Hear from Dr. Ellis, one of a handful of female, black heart surgeons, during our #EmPoweredtoServe webinar.
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February 3
In 1893, Dr. Williams performed the first cardiac surgery to save a young stabbing victims life.
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February 4
Every Thursday during #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to see your throwbacks! Tell us, what do you wish your younger self knew about health?
Twitter: @Power2EndStroke
Facebook: Power To End Stroke
#EmPoweredtoServe #BlackHistoryMonth #tbt #ThrowbackThursday
February 5
On this #WearRedDay, we recognize all women whose lives have been touched by heart disease and stroke. We also honor the women who paved the way for future generations’ health, like Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who was the first black woman to earn a medical degree in 1864.
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February 6
This year, about 1,000 black students will graduate with medical degrees. Dr. JM Smith was the first, in 1837.
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February 7
Dr. Canady specialized in pediatric neurosurgery and said, “In order to provide good quality care, it is so important that patients are able to talk to you and not regard you as some deity above them.”
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February 8
In 1961, Dr. Elders became chief resident at the University of Arkansas and led a team of all-white, all-male residents and interns.
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February 9
Born a slave in 1757, James Derham won his freedom and became the first black person to receive a certificate to practice medicine in the US.
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February 10
The #EmPoweredtoServe movement is all about breaking down barriers to health and ensuring all Americans have the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives. We thank Dr. Ferebee for her pioneering work. In the 1920s, she was one of the first to provide medical care to black families in Washington, DC and later in Mississippi.
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February 11
Share your healthy #tbt pics! What age were you the healthiest?
Twitter: @Power2EndStroke
Facebook: Power To End Stroke
#EmPoweredtoServe #BlackHistoryMonth #tbt #ThrowbackThursday
February 12
Vivien Thomas, along with a pediatric cardiologist, pioneered the surgical procedures to correct tetralogy of Fallot in 1943.
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February 13
David Satcher worked to end health disparities and save lives as surgeon general.
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February 14
As the first black legislator in Nebraska, Ricketts worked to end discrimination.
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February 15
Dr. Augusta was also the Army’s first black physician in the 1860s.
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February 16
On June 24, 2008, Adams testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health in support of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007, which sought to reduce ethnic disparities in health care, improve “cultural competency” among medical providers, and improve medical workplace diversity.
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February 17
Michelle Obama has worked for nearly eight years to reduce childhood obesity by working with schools, communities and families to eat healthier and move more.
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February 18
Show us your #tbt of whose health matters to you.
Twitter: @Power2EndStroke
Facebook: Power To End Stroke
#EmPoweredtoServe #BlackHistoryMonth #tbt #ThrowbackThursday
February 19
It was 1995 when Dr. Bristow became the first black president of the American Medical Association.
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February 20
Dr. Johnson used cardiac catheterization to measure the pressure and blood flow in the heart to diagnose heart disease.
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February 21
Dr. Gunning was inspired to become a doctor at the age of five.
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February 22
In 1943, Dr. Logan was the first woman to perform open-heart surgery. Even today, only 3% of heart surgeons are women.
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February 23
Dr. Ellis paved the way in 1920. In 2012, there were more black neurologists (411) and black cardiologists (690) than all of the black men playing in the NBA (350).
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February 24
This #aphia alum began the #Morehouse MD program in the 1970s and then became the secretary of HHS.
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February 25
Was it easy to be healthy where you grew up? Share a #tbt pic of you as a kid and tell us about how eating better and moving more was different than it is now for you.
Twitter: @Power2EndStroke
Facebook: Power To End Stroke
#EmPoweredtoServe #BlackHistoryMonth #tbt #ThrowbackThursday
February 26
Dr. Wells was a true advocate for the underserved people in her community. She ignored the fact that no one “like her” was doing this type of work and set out to make a difference. Thank you, Dr. Wells!
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February 27
She was an early Civil Rights advocate, who spoke and wrote about injustices against black Americans.
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February 28
Thank you, Mary Eliza Mahoney, for paving the way for millions of black women in the healthcare field.
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February 29
Chef Terry uses cooking as a tool to illuminate the intersections of poverty, structural racism, and food insecurity.
