Trailblazing Black Women: Dorothy Lavinia Brown, MD

Photo: Health Care IT Dorothy Lavinia Brown, MD, broke new ground as the first Black female surgeon in the South while facing insurmountable odds. She was a trailblazer in medicine and an inspiration to future generations because of her tenacious persistence and relentless pursuit of perfection. She made history by being the first Black woman to be elected a member of the esteemed American College of Surgeons. This article will examine Dr. Brown’s life and work, focusing on her remarkable journey, struggles, and lasting impact. Early Life & Education Dr. Brown was born in 1919 in Philadelphia, Tennessee, at a time when African Americans faced racial prejudice and little opportunity. Nonetheless, she advanced due to her formidable intelligence and incontestable enthusiasm for medicine. She attended North Carolina’s Bennett College on a full scholarship and did very well academically there. Medical School & Barriers The path Dr. Brown bravely followed to become a surgeon was not without obstacles. Despite rejection from several medical schools based on gender and color, she remained determined and unfazed. She persisted in her pursuit of admission to Nashville, Tennessee’s Meharry Medical College. She proved her naysayers incorrect by overcoming prejudice and graduating with honors in 1948....