Rosalynn Yalow

Radioimmunoassay

I do not know much about Dr. Yalow, but she won a Nobel Prize for developing diagnostic techniques using radioisotopes. Her work is probably in the 1960's or '70's, and I heard her lecture in Richland, Washington in the '80's. I hope you can google on her and incorporate her achievements into the traveling exhibit that I just viewed here in Kennewick, Washington. Her husband, Dr. Aaron Yalow, was my physics instructor at Cooper Union in New York in 1953.

Probably late 1940s or early 50s.

Johns Hopkins and Raritan, NJ

My second cousin was born with "blue baby" syndrome. He was older than I, and I was born in 1944. I always remember my mother speaking about the fact that he went to Johns Hopkins and was operated on by a "Dr. Taussig." I thought at the time she must have been a very fine doctor but knew nothing specific about her. My cousin survivied and was healthy after the surgery, only to die because of involvement with drugs as a young man. Just hearing about her as a child sparked my curiosity and I was pleased to find this page and learn more about her. For some reason her name stuck with me.

Lexie Hernandez

oncologist

2005

New York

alex has helped me. she has saved me from cancer. though they say theres no cure she found away to help. Lexie is from Montego Bay, Jamacia and imigrated to New York city, New york. Through many years of hard research at Sanford brown university. she gradruated. i thank Lexie that i can finally live a normal life again with my husband, AJ, and my three kids christian, jr. and Toya.

Dr. Josephine Fowler

Family Medicine (Prenatal thru Geriatrics)

2000 thru 2006

Codman Square Health Ctr & Boston Medical Ctr Hsp

Dr. Josephine Fowler is by far not only one of the most brilliant minds in medicine today. Her love and dedication to her patients far exceeds that of any of the medical experts that I have dealt with over my life time. We first met when I interviewed her to be my daughters OB/GYN physician. My inquires into her personal and professional ethics and beliefs were quite amazing and has led me to the non-regrettable personal and professional affections I highly esteem unto her.

Although Dr. Fowler's extensive medical wisdom and expertise embraces and incorporates all modern conventional training and techniques it uniquely transends itself allowing her to achieve amazing successful medical results that stuns the medical community. Dr. Fowler believes that every life is a gift worthy of saving. I have had the awesome pleasure of witnessing her deliver two of my three grandchildren one of whom was in a premature delivery crisis situation. Dr. Fowler employed every skill and technique known to her ultimately achieving the vaginal delivery of a healthy, 4lbs.5ozs baby boy. Her colleagues noted to us that what she had done was nothing short of a miracle and continues to comment on her brilliant medical mind and the great loss their institution has sufferred by her leaving.

Also, in December of 2004, my 65 year old aunt had been complaining for severe abdominal pains (which for the previous 2 years was diagnosed as a urinary tract infection and treated with antibiotics). I telephoned Dr. Fowler and related the situation to her, informing her that once again my aunt was hospitalized and the diagnosis is recurring UTI. She offered to examine my aunt and was amazed to discover that she had had massive fibroids of the uterus. Extensive tests were ordered and Dr. Fowler's worst fears were confirmed. My aunt was in chronic renal failure as the massive fibroids were crushing her kidneys and in one case her left kidney could not be saved. Dr. Fowler had my aunt immediately admitted to Boston Medical Center where she carefully selected four teams of medical experts--GYN/Oncology, Kidney, Medical and Cardiac. After two major surgical procedures my aunt just celebrated her 69th birthday and looks forward to a very long, productive and healthy life.

These are simply two of numerous awesome stories that can be told about Dr. Josephine Fowler. The Codman Square Health Center, the Dorchester House Health Center as well as the Boston Medical Center/Hospital heralds her loss. Both patients and colleagues alike feel the impact of her transition to Texas and while we applaud her success we selfishly moan our loss and request her return. Her love of patients and her RESPECT for them are unparalleled elsewhere. Today, I am strongly considering transferring my entire family's care from BMC to another facility in hopes of finding a hospital where race and financial status does not determine one's level of care or the respect and graciousness they receive.

Marjorie-Peebles Meyers

Internal Medicine

1915-2001

Detroit, Michigan

In 1943, Marjorie Peebles-Meyers earned her medical degree as the first African-American woman to graduate from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. She spent her life as a pioneer, conquering many obstacles and receiving many honors for her outstanding accomplishments.

Dr. Peebles-Meyers died from a stroke at Detroit Receiving Hospital on Dec. 26, 2001, at age 86.

The Harlem native announced in 1928 that she wanted to become a doctor and then set out to fulfill her dreams. She graduated from Hunter College in New York City with a bachelor of arts and completed her master's degree in psychology at Columbia University. She attended Howard University Medical School, but transferred to WSU after two years.

In 1947, she completed her residency in internal medicine and was among the first Detroit doctors to establish an interracial private practice with the late Dr. Eugene Shafarman. She was the first African-American woman accepted as an intern at Detroit Receiving Hospital and the first black woman to become its chief resident.

Dr. Peebles-Meyers also was the first African-American woman to receive a teaching appointment at the WSU School of Medicine, where she served as clinical associate professor in the Department of General Medicine.

From 1977 to 1985, Dr. Peebles-Meyers was the first woman and first African American to serve as chief physician for Ford Motor Co. at the World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

The Michigan State Medical Society elected her to its AMA delegation, making Michigan the first and later one of few states to have an African-American woman on its delegation.

She received many honors, including being named a Distinguished Warrior by the Detroit Urban League; Michigan's Outstanding Physician by the Michigan State Medical Board; and a member of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1986. Newsweek magazine also profiled her as one of 100 notable Americans, an honor the humble physician tried to downplay. In 2000, the Wayne State University School of Medicine recognized her as one of its inaugural Pathfinders in Medicine.

From Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Alum Notes, Volume 13, No. 1