Medicine's Hidden History
This 1932- 1972 study withheld treatment for syphilis from Black men in Alabama.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
Black women are about ___ times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes
About 3 times.
In the 1950s, cells taken without consent from this Black woman became one of the most important tools in medical research.
Henrietta Lacks
Black physicians make up approximately this small percentage of U.S. doctors (around ___%).
around 5%
On Grey's Anatomy, this general surgeon broke barriers as one of the first prominent Black female leads in a major medical drama.
Dr. Miranda Bailey
In the 20th century, this discriminatory housing practice contributed to environmental and health disparities in Black communities.
Black women now make up approximately what percentage of Black medical students in the United States?
over 70%
In 1864, she became the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, paving the way for future generations of physicians
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler
This 2010 healthcare law significantly reduced racial gaps in uninsured rates by expanding coverage.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)/ Obamacare
In this 2017 HBO film, Henrietta Lacks’s cells were taken without consent, becoming one of the most important tools in medical research.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Established in 1909, this civil rights organization successfully challenged hospital segregation and improved access to care for Black patients nationwide.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Black women are approximately how much more likely to die from cervical cancer compared to white women in the United States?
About 60%
This physician became the first Black U.S. Surgeon General in 1993.
Dr. Joycelyn Elders
The Civil Right Act outlawed discrimination in public places and laid the groundwork for hospital desegregation across the United States in this year.
1964
This character of Grey's Anatomy, the former Chief of Surgery and mentor to many doctors on the show, guides residents through ethical dilemmas in medicine.
Dr. Richard Webber
In 1847, this major U.S. medical organization was founded but excluded Black physicians for decades, contributing to segregated medical care.
The American Medical Association (AMA).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the life expectancy gap between Black and white Americans widened to approximately how many years at its peak?
6-7 years
This pediatrician helped lead national sickle cell disease screening efforts and later became director of primary care at HRSA.
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston
Despite chronic underfunding compared to predominantly white institutions, these colleges remain central to diversifying the healthcare workforce, producing nearly 70% of Black doctors and dentists.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
This long-running medical drama starring Angela Bassett as Dr. Athena Grant highlighted emergency response disparities and health access issues in Los Angeles.
9-1-1
Often called the “father of modern gynecology,” this physician developed surgical techniques by experimenting on enslaved Black women without anesthesia.
Dr. J. Marion Sims
Studies show Black patients in emergency departments are approximately how much less likely (%) to receive adequate pain medication compared to white patients for similar conditions?
30–40%
This epidemiologist and former president of the American Public Health Association is known for her work on health equity and structural racism.
Camara Phyllis Jones
This national initiative aims to eliminate racial disparities in maternal mortality and improve outcomes for Black mothers.
The Black Maternal Health movement
This Black cardiothoracic surgeon, who is also the half-sister of the hospital’s former chief, often challenges systemic racism and advocates for equitable patient care on Grey’s Anatomy.
Dr. Maggie Pierce