Abstract
There are currently four medical schools dedicated primarily to training African-American physicians. Two of these schools were established in the last 40 years. For a generation prior to that, only Howard University College of Medicine and Meharry Medical College existed. Forgotten is the history of black medical schools established in the 19th and early 20th centuries, most of which are now defunct. While barriers to the medical education of African Americans in majority institutions have largely disappeared, the continued education of students at our four present-day black medical schools is again threatened. It is incumbent upon us not to allow these modern-day threats to destroy an important resource and legacy in the annals of African-American people. This paper explores medical education in the 19th and 20th centuries, the creation of black medical schools and the forces that lead to the demise of many of these institutions. In recalling this history, we acknowledge the almost-impossible odds faced by these pioneers and learn from their mistakes and failures.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Epps C. H., Jr Perspectives from the historic African American medical institutions. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999 May;(362):95–101. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Markel H. The University of Michigan Medical School, 1850-2000: "an example worthy of imitation". JAMA. 2000 Feb 16;283(7):915–920. doi: 10.1001/jama.283.7.915. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Savitt T. L. Entering a white profession: black physicians in the new South, 1880-1920. Bull Hist Med. 1987 Winter;61(4):507–540. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Savitt T. L. Four African-American proprietary medical colleges: 1888-1923. J Hist Med Allied Sci. 2000 Jul;55(3):203–255. doi: 10.1093/jhmas/55.3.203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Savitt T. L. Lincoln University Medical Department--a forgotten 19th century black medical school. J Hist Med Allied Sci. 1985 Jan;40(1):42–65. doi: 10.1093/jhmas/40.1.42. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Savitt T. L. Money versus mission at an African-American medical school: Knoxville College Medical Department, 1895-1900. Bull Hist Med. 2001 Winter;75(4):680–716. doi: 10.1353/bhm.2001.0191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]