Happy Black Women Physicians Day! Yes, this is real! On the 8th of February, we should celebrate and honor the Black women physicians out there working hard to create a safe space for their BIPOC patients, advocate for health equity, and acting as role models for aspiring womxn physicians.
For these reasons, I would like to give recognition to two Black women physicians. The first one being Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman in 1864 to become a doctor of medicine in the United States. In 1883 publishing A Book of Medical Discourse based on their journey to become a doctor and medical practices. By pursuing her career choice she “challenged the prejudice that prevented African Americans from pursuing careers in medicine”. She worked diligently for her community, aiding freed slaves with no access to healthcare. It’s important to celebrate how she paved away for many other Black womxn physicians given a time where Black people were rarely given the chance to go to medical school and be able to publish their journey.
The next woman is Helen Octavia Dickens, the first Black women physician admitted in the American College of Surgeons, board-certified in Philadelphia, and faculty of the department of OB/GYN at UPenn. Dickens had many accomplishments that too paved a way for Black women in medicine. Dickens was a huge advocate for promoting health equity for Black women, especially in cervical screenings, prenatal care, and sexual health.
I would like to thank these women for their accomplishments and for paving a path for Black women in medicine. Representation matters, knowing about history like this matters, and there are so many things Black women physicians today are doing for the world. Let’s not forget them.
Comments