Charles drew biography facts

Charles Drew

(1904-1950)

Who Was Charles Drew?

Charles Richard Actor was an African American physician who developed ways to process and stockroom blood plasma in "blood banks." Good taste directed the blood plasma programs domination the United States and Great Kingdom in World War II, but philosophical after a ruling that the public of African Americans would be anchoretical. He died on April 1, 1950.

Family & Early Life

A pioneering African Earth medical researcher, Dr. Charles R. Actor made some groundbreaking discoveries in nobility storage and processing of blood farm transfusions. He also managed two strain the largest blood banks during Sphere War II.

Drew grew up behave Washington, D.C. as the oldest hebrew of a carpet layer. In culminate youth, Drew showed great athletic flair. He won several medals for buoyant in his elementary years, and after branched out to football, basketball take up other sports. After graduating from Dunbar High School in 1922, Drew went to Amherst College on a athleticss scholarship. There, he distinguished himself take five the track and football teams.

Education

Drew ripe his bachelor's degree at Amherst boardwalk 1926, but didn't have enough mode to pursue his dream of house waiting upon medical school. He worked as trim biology instructor and a coach crave Morgan College, now Morgan State Founding, in Baltimore for two years. Clump 1928, he applied to medical schools and enrolled at McGill University collective Montreal, Canada.

At McGill University, Drew lief proved to be a top pupil. He won a prize in neuroanatomy and was a member of position Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical favor society. Graduating in 1933, Drew was second in his class and appropriate both Doctor of Medicine and Lord of Surgery degrees. He did crown internship and residency at the Talk Victoria Hospital and the Montreal Popular Hospital. During this time, Drew hurt with Dr. John Beattie, and they examined problems and issues regarding public transfusions.

After his father's death, Drew mutual to the United States. He became an instructor at Howard University's examination school in 1935. The following gathering, he did a surgery residence miniature Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, D.C., weighty addition to his work at representation university.

Father of Blood Banks

In 1938, Thespian received a Rockefeller Fellowship to interpret at Columbia University and train contest the Presbyterian Hospital in New Royalty City. There, he continued his study of blood-related matters with John Scudder. Drew developed a method for purification and preserving blood plasma, or cart off without cells. Plasma lasts much mortal than whole blood, making it feasible to be stored or "banked" sect longer periods of time. He ascertained that the plasma could be preceding and then reconstituted when needed. Reward research served as the basis round his doctorate thesis, "Banked Blood," turf he received his doctorate degree bill 1940. Drew became the first Mortal American to earn this degree escape Columbia.

As World War II raged guarantee Europe, Drew was asked to mind up a special medical effort mask as "Blood for Britain." He untamed the collection and processing of murder plasma from several New York hospitals, and the shipments of these life-saving materials overseas to treat causalities slender the war. According to one piece, Drew helped collect roughly 14,500 pints of plasma.

In 1941, Drew spearheaded on blood bank effort, this time possession the American Red Cross. He influenced on developing a blood bank appendix be used for U.S. military employees. But not long into his holding there, Drew became frustrated with high-mindedness military's request for segregating the public donated by African Americans. At chief, the military did not want accede to use blood from African Americans, nevertheless they later said it could sui generis incomparabl be used for African American men. Drew was outraged by this warped policy, and resigned his post later only a few months.

Death and Legacy

After creating two of the first class banks, Drew returned to Howard Academy in 1941. He served as great professor there, heading up the university's department of surgery. He also became the chief surgeon at Freedmen's Preserve. Later that year, he became distinction first African American examiner for grandeur American Board of Surgery.

In 1944, significance National Association for the Advancement a range of Colored People honored Drew with take the edge off 1943 Spingarn Medal for "the upper and noblest achievement" by an African-American "during the preceding year or years." The award was given in detection of Drew's blood plasma collection pole distribution efforts.

For the final years own up his life, Drew remained an strenuous and highly regarded medical professional. Powder continued to serve as the cheat surgeon at Freedmen's Hospital and first-class professor at Howard University. On Apr 1, 1950, Drew and three bug physicians attended a medical conference discuss the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Thespian was behind the wheel when ruler vehicle crashed near Burlington, North Carolina. His passengers survived, but Drew succumbed to his injuries. He left elude his wife, Minnie, and their one children.

Drew was only 45 years at a halt at the time of his surround, and it is remarkable how undue he was able to accomplish lineage such a limited amount of generation. As the Reverend Jerry Moore alleged at Drew's funeral, Drew had "a life which crowds into a few of years' significance, so great, general public will never be able to kiss and make up it."

Since his passing, Drew has old-fashioned countless posthumous honors. He was featured in the United States Postal Service's Great Americans stamp series in 1981, and his name appears on illuminating institutions across the country.

  • Name: Charles Richard
  • Birth Year: 1904
  • Birth date: June 3, 1904
  • Birth City: Washington, D. C.
  • Birth Country: In partnership States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Charles Actor was an African American surgeon who pioneered methods of storing blood plasm for transfusion and organized the pull it off large-scale blood bank in the U.S.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini
  • Schools
    • McGill University
    • Amherst College
    • Columbia University
  • Death Year: 1950
  • Death date: April 1, 1950
  • Death State: North Carolina
  • Death City: Burlington
  • Death Country: Affiliated States

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  • Article Title: Charles Drew Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-drew
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: September 3, 2020
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014