Griffin Health, Ansonia NAACP honor Black Leaders in Medicine

Honoring Black Leaders in Medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders.

In 1961, 28-year-old Dr. Elders became the chief resident at the University of Arkansas. She was the first person in the state of Arkansas to be board certified in pediatric endocrinology. 

In 1987, Gov. Bill Clinton appointed Dr. Elders head of the Arkansas Department of Health, and in 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed her the 16th surgeon general of the United States. She was the first Black person and the second female to hold this position.

Griffin, Ansonia NAACP celebrate Black Leaders in Medicine

Honoring Black Leaders in Medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Alexa Canady.

In 1976, at age 26, Dr. Canady became the first Black female neurosurgeon in the United States as a resident at the University of Minnesota.

In 1986, after four years at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Canady became chief of the hospital’s neurosurgery department.

Dr. Canady’s research in neurosurgical techniques resulted in the invention of a programmable antisiphon shunt, which is used to treat excess fluid in the brain. She shares a U.S. patent for the device with two other neurosurgeons.

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.

Griffin Health, Ansonia NAACP honor Black Leaders in Medicine

Honoring Black Leaders in Medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Samuel L. Kountz.

Dr. Kountz became President of the Society of University Surgeons (1974-75), and the first surgeon to perform a kidney transplant between humans who were not identical twins (1964).

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.

Griffin Health, Ansonia NAACP honor Black Americans in Medicine

 

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Jane Cooke Wright.

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Dr. Wright to the President’s Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke. 

In 1967, at age 48, Wright became professor of surgery, head of the cancer chemotherapy department, and associate dean at New York Medical College. 

These accomplishments made her the highest-ranking Black woman at a nationally recognized medical institution. 

In 1971, Dr. Wright also became the first female president of the New York Cancer Society. 

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.

Griffin Health, Ansonia NAACP honor Black leaders in medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Aletha Maybank.

Dr. Maybank, as the American Medical Association’s inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer, has led efforts to embed health equity into medical policies, research, and advocacy.

She has been a key voice in addressing systemic racism in healthcare, developing strategies to eliminate disparities, and ensuring equitable access to quality medical care.

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.

Griffin Health, Ansonia NAACP recognize Black Leaders in Medicine

Honoring Black Leaders in Medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Regina Benjamin.

In 1995, Dr. Benjamin became the first Black woman, and the first person under 40, to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, and in 2002, she became the first Black female president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. 

She was chosen “Woman of the Year” by both CBS This Morning and People magazine. Dr. Benjamin won a $500,000 MacArthur “genius” award in 2008, and was appointed the 18th surgeon general by President Barack Obama in 2009.

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.

Griffin Health recognizes first Black female astronaut

Honoring Black Leaders in Medicine

In honor of Black History Month, Griffin Health has partnered with the Ansonia NAACP in recognizing Black Americans who have made significant contributions to medicine.

Today, we spotlight Dr. Mae C. Jemison.

Dr. Jemison was the first Black female astronaut in NASA history (August, 1992). 

After earning her medical degree at Cornell in 1981, Dr. Jemison went on to research various vaccines in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). She continued her medical research on the shuttle Endeavour by conducting experiments in materials processing and life sciences in space.

This is shared from Griffin Hospital's Facebook page.