M. WHARTON YOUNG (1903–1986) was a neuroanatomist whose primary research was in the fields of baldness and deafness and who also did research on the anatomical basis of glaucoma. A Fulbright scholar, professor, and visiting lecturer, he served as chairman of the Ninth International Congress of Anatomists in Leningrad, Russia, in 1970. Dr. Young received ...

CARTER G. WOODSON (1875–1950), known as the Father of Negro History, set for himself the goal of providing a scientific and historical account of people of African ancestry. Born to former slaves, he educated himself as a youth and went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912. Among his highly influential writings ...

WILLIAM JULIUS WILSON (1935– ), one of America’s leading sociologist, and a prolific author, was, in 1996, named the Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. At Harvard, Dr. Wilson will also serve on the Advisory Board of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African American Research. ...

DONALD E. WILSON became Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in September 1991. In May 1999, he was named Vice President for Medical Affairs of the University of Maryland, Baltimore. At the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn he was professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine, ...

DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS (1858–1931) was the first person in the world to operate successfully on the human heart. He performed that feat in 1893 at Provident Hospital in Chicago and went on to perform other history-making operations. In 1891 he founded Provident Hospital, first hospital and training school for African American nurses and interns in ...

JACK E. WHITE (1921–1988), who was director of the Howard University Cancer Research Center and chairman of the Department of Oncology at Howard University’s College of Medicine, made outstanding contributions to cancer research. He was a recipient of an award from the American Cancer Society for Outstanding Service to the Cause of Cancer Control. Dr. ...

CHARLES HENRY TURNER (1867–1923) was a biologist, neurologist, psychologist, and chemist who made an international reputation as a researcher in animal behavior, concentrating on bees and ants. In 1907 Dr. Turner was a delegate to the Seventh International Zoological Congress and in 1912 he became one of the few African Americans elected to membership in ...

REED V. TUCKSON (1951– ) has dedicated his career to improving the health and well-being of residents of urban communities, particularly minorities and children. Dr. Tuckson is currently the group vice president for professional standards at the American Medical Association. He is also the immediate past president of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine ...

LOUIS W. SULLIVAN (1933– ) is a medical researcher, educator, and adviser to the federal government. From 1989 to 1992 he served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was founding dean and director of the medical education program at Morehouse College and first dean of the Morehouse School of ...

MITCHELL W. SPELLMAN (1919– ) is director of International Exchange Programs at Harvard Medical International and dean (emeritus) for International Projects, dean (emeritus) for Medical Services, and professor of surgery (emeritus) at Harvard Medical School. He has served as dean and executive dean of the Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School and as professor of ...