Black History at Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center students, faculty, and graduates have contributed individually and collectively to efforts to increase the diversity of America’s health care workforce and eliminate health disparities.

The medical center salutes these individuals and programs. Through links to articles in publications, news articles, and library exhibits, learn more about these efforts. Here are a few individuals you will read about: W.V. Cordice Jr., a surgeon at Harlem Hospital who operated on Martin Luther King Jr. after he was stabbed in 1958; College of dental Medicine graduate Bessie Delaney, the second African American dentist in New York City, who with her sister was the subject of a newspaper article, book, Broadway show, and TV movie; and Mary T. Bassett, College of Physicians and Surgeons graduate and current public health faculty member recently named New York City health commissioner. Many more examples are listed; undoubtedly many others could be cited as evidence of ways in which our medical, dental, nursing, and public health schools have advanced public health and scientific research.

Learn more.