Black women have made significant contributions to medicine throughout history, from the nineteenth century to the present. These women have faced institutional obstacles and defied stereotypes related to race and gender. They have conducted groundbreaking research and also advocated for fair healthcare access. Their efforts revolutionized medicine and continue to inspire the coming generations.
Here, we showcase seven outstanding Black women who have made and are still making a difference today. Their contributions have impacted and continue to shape healthcare.
1. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895)
Cover of A Book of Medical Discourses, written by Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The first Black woman to acquire a medical degree in the United States, Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College despite facing notable racial and gender discrimination.
After the Civil War, she worked for the Freedmen’s Bureau in Richmond, Virginia, where she provided medical care to newly liberated slaves. She was among the first clinicians to prioritize preventive medicine and public health.
In 1883, she released A Book of Medical Discourses, making her one of the first African-Americans to write a book on medicine. Her legacy continues to encourage Black women interested in medicine.
Fun Fact: Rebecca Lee Crumpler is the first Black female physician in the United States.
2. Myra Adele Logan (1908–1977)
Dr. Myra A. Logan was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and studied biology at Atlanta University before acquiring her medical degree from the New York Medical College. In 1943, she became the first African-American woman to perform a successful open-heart surgery, clinching an amazing achievement in a male-dominated field.
She worked at Harlem Hospital, where she was one of the first African American women to serve as a resident surgeon. Later, this exceptional woman shifted her focus to breast cancer research, developing early detection methods using X-rays and improving radiation therapy.
Logan also advocated for healthcare access in Black communities. Her work helped break racial and gender restrictions in medicine. She created an example for future generations of Black women to follow.
Fun Fact: Outside of healthcare and medicine, Logan enjoyed playing the piano.
3. Marilyn Hughes Gaston (1939)
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Miami University in 1960, before graduating from medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1964.
Specializing in pediatric medicine, her research led to nationwide newborn screening programs in 1986. This led to early detection of sickle cell in babies, allowing a quick approach to managing the condition. Her discovery advanced pediatric medicine in the aspect of sickle cell disease treatment.
In 1990, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to lead the Bureau of Primary Health Care in the United States Public Health Service. Dr. Gaston’s legacy continues to impact lives through programs that push for better healthcare access for underdeveloped communities.
4. Dr. Lisa Cooper (1963)
Dr. Lisa Cooper is a Liberian-born physician, public health researcher, and campaigner for equity in medicine. She is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University, where she oversees the Center for Health Equity and the Urban Health Institute.
She has received global recognition for her study on the effects of race, ethnicity, and gender on the patient-physician relationship. The research also studied the resulting health disparities from these factors.
Dr. Lisa Cooper was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2007 and was appointed to President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in 2021.
5. Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones (1955)
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones is a physician, epidemiologist, and public health advocate who focuses on racism and health disparities. She is a former APHA president (2016) and CDC researcher who researches how systemic racism affects healthcare outcomes.
She demonstrated the different stages of racism using the “Gardner’s Tale,” which she also created. With degrees from Stanford and Johns Hopkins, she teaches at prestigious colleges and campaigns for legislative changes to eliminate health disparities. Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones combines research, education, and action to deliver a wonderful career track record.
6. Dr. Ala Stanford (1970) – A Modern Champion for Health Access
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Dr. Ala Stanford made national headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic when she founded the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium (BDCC) in Philadelphia.
A pediatric surgeon and public health advocate who works to eliminate healthcare disparities, she established BDCC during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide free testing and immunizations to impoverished Black communities in Philadelphia. Dr. Stanford’s efforts led to thousands of Black residents receiving free COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.
Her grassroots initiatives received national attention, earning her multiple honors. She was named Regional Director of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 3 in 2022, giving her more momentum to continue to advocate for health equity, policy reform, and accessible care.
7. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett (1986)
American Society For Microbiology
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a viral immunologist who helped create the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. She received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and worked with Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Outside of medical practices, she fights for vaccine education and health fairness, particularly in Black communities.
Dr. Corbett is currently an assistant professor at Harvard University, where she researches viral immunology and mentors new generations of scientists. A TIME100 Next honoree, she remains a strong voice in immunology, public health, and scientific research diversity.
Fun Fact: Dr. Corbett’s mRNA vaccines accelerated the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.
These seven women represent the resilience, innovation, and excellence of Black women in medicine.
As we honor these ladies, we must also strive to help the next generation of Black female doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals. They are critical to the development of a more just and equal medical system.
