Hidden Healers: A Celebration of Historical Black Figures in Medicine
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, the first black woman to direct the Bureau of Primary Care in the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, transformed the clinical and public health management of sickle cell disease. Through rigorous clinical trials, she demonstrated that early diagnosis combined with prophylactic penicillin dramatically reduced childhood mortality. These findings directly led to mandatory newborn screening programs across the United States. Gaston’s work shifted sickle cell from a neglected disease to a national public health priority and forced health systems to confront racial inequities embedded in research funding and care delivery. Her leadership reshaped pediatric standards of care and improved life expectancy for thousands of children.
References
Gaston, M. H., et al. (1986). New England Journal of Medicine, 314(25), 1593–1599.
CDC. (2022). Sickle cell disease data & statistics.
About
DISC Health
The Health Equity Action Lab (HEAL) is an initiative by Dynasty Interactive Screen Community aimed at addressing health disparities in the U.S. and globally. By engaging media and stakeholders, HEAL seeks to reduce health inequalities and raise awareness. Their approach includes overcoming socio historical barriers and confronting the institutional, social, and political factors that perpetuate healthcare inequality.
Howard University Hospital (HUH)
Howard University Hospital, established in 1862 as Freedmen’s Hospital, has a rich history of serving African Americans and training top medical professionals. Located in Washington, D.C., it is the only teaching hospital on the campus of a historically Black university. HUH is a Level 1 Trauma Center and a critical healthcare provider for underserved populations. It offers advanced medical services, including robotic surgery, and has received numerous accolades for excellence in specialties like heart care, stroke treatment, and radiology.
Learn more about Howard University Hospital (HUH)
Howard University Faculty Practice Plan (FPP)
The Howard University Faculty Practice Plan is a multi-specialty physician group in Washington, D.C., dedicated to advancing healthcare and eliminating health disparities. It offers comprehensive services, including primary and specialty care, mental health, imaging, and cancer care, all connected to Howard University Hospital. FPP emphasizes patient-centered, respectful care for the diverse community and provides free health screenings and events to promote wellness.
Learn more about Howard University Faculty Practice Plan (FPP)
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