Dating back to the American Revolutionary War, African Americans have made significant contributions to our country in science and medicine. Names we may not recognize include those such as Patricia Bath, a pioneer in the treatment and prevention of blindness. Bath became the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology in 1973, which led to her appointment two years later as the first woman faculty member at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. In 1988, Bath became the first African American woman physician to receive a medical patent, which improved cataract treatment. As CivitasLA celebrates Black History Month, we’re joined by Dr. David Carlisle, President of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, located in the Willowbrook community of South LA and one of just a handful of Black medical schools in our country, as we discuss efforts to build a healthy community and their central role in training the next generation of health service professionals needed in our diverse communities. To learn more, please visit: https://www.cdrewu.edu/

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