DR. PATRICIA BATH: The Unprecedented Ophthalmologist
Why is health equity important?
African Americans are at INCREASED risk of eye diseases.
Cataracts: African Americans are 1.5 times more likely to develop cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness in the world.
Glaucoma: African Americans are five times more likely than whites to develop glaucoma. Researchers don’t know why this is but believe it’s related to high rates of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension in the black community.
Do you know of anyone affected by an eye disease? Members of my family were affected by eye disease, my grandmother and great-great-aunt but I’m sure it would have been more if it wasn’t for the GOAT of Ophthalmology, she changed the game.
Patricia Bath, a revolutionary ophthalmologist, innovative scientist and a humanitarian. Her dedication to medicine began in her childhood when she learned about Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s charitable acts in Congo. Dr. Bath’s innovations started at the tender age of 16, where she invented a mathematical equation for prognosticating cancer cell growth. Her inventions were presented at a conference in Washington D.C by, Dr. Robert O. Benard and later won a 1960 Mademoiselle magazine merit Award.
After completing high school in just two and a half years, Bath went to Hunters College for her bachelor’s degree and medical degree at Howard University. At that time, medicine was considered as a male profession, Bath knew of no women physicians, and African-Americans were debarred from health institutions. She was able to overcome sexism and racism because she couldn’t allow it to stand in the way of her inventions.
During her internship period at Harlem hospital, she got a scholarship at Columbia University to continue with her research work, where she made her first discovery; nearly half of African Americans were visually impaired. She concluded that it was due to the absence of proper eye medical care. This discovery prompted her to come up with a new discipline titled “Community Ophthalmology” and an eye clinic in Harlem. In 1973, she emerged as the first African American to attain post-graduate training in ophthalmology. Two years later, Bath established that eye-sight was a fundamental human right. This was through the American Prevention of Blindness institute that she co-founded with her friends. Bath’s most significant innovation was in 1981, where she developed a device named Laserphaco, for cataract removal. Her invention has saved millions of sights in the world, and its one of the greatest achievements in public health. The celebrated ophthalmologist displayed bravery in a male-dominated field at the time.
Happy Black History Month all and thank you, Dr. Patricia Bath. During this time of the year I recommend, each one of you challenges yourself! What can you do to make your mark in Black history?
Health Note: Don’t forget to schedule your yearly eye exam
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