Anniversary of Charles Drew's Death

“I feel that the recent ruling of the United States Army and Navy regarding the refusal of colored blood donors is an indefensible one from any point of view. As you know, there is no scientific basis for the separation of the bloods of different races except on the basis of the individual blood types or groups” - Charles Drew

(Charles Drew)

Dr. Charles Drew was born June 3rd, 1904 in Washington D.C., USA. In 1922 Drew graduated from Dunbar high school. Drew won an athletics scholarship to Amherst college in Massachusetts.

(Drew in college)

He graduated in 1926. Drew attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, receiving his MDCM in 1933, and ranked 2nd in his class of 127 students. Drew later did graduate work at Columbia University, where he earned his Doctor of Medical Science degree, becoming the first African American to do so. In 1939 Drew married Minnie Lenore Robbins, a professor of home economics at Spelman College. In 1940 Drew was recruited by John Scudder to help set up and administer an early prototype program for blood storage and preservation.

(Drew in 1940)

Drew created a central location for the blood collection process where donors could go to give blood. Out of this there was a total collection of almost 15,000 people donating blood, and with over 5,500 vials of blood plasma. In 1941 Drew became the first African-American surgeon selected to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery. Drew had a lengthy research and teaching career and became a chief surgeon. In the 1950 Tuskegee clinic, Drew drove along with three other black physicians. Drew was driving and he was fatigued from the night before from being at a theater. Drew lost control of the vehicle and the car careening into a field, the car somersaulted three times. The three other physicians suffered minor injuries. Drew was trapped with serious wounds; his foot had become wedged beneath the brake pedal.

(Drew in 1950)

On April 1st, 1950 Dr. Charles Drew died from his injuries in Burlington, North Carolina. He was 45 years old. Today is the 67th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great surgeon today.