Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895) born on February 8, 1831, was a physician and author who after studying at the New England Female Medical College, in 1864 became the first Black woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States. She accomplished so much in her short 64-year life.

Rebecca first practiced medicine in Boston, primarily for poor women and children. After the Civil War ended in 1865, she moved to Richmond, Virginia, believing treating women and children there was an ideal way to perform missionary work. It's thought that she might have been the first black woman to publish a medical article. In 1833 she published a 2-part piece called "A Book of Medical Discourses". The first part focused on the care of infants and the second part focused on women's health.

Crumpler worked for the Freedmen's Bureau. She was subject to intense racism and sexism while practicing medicine.

During this time, many men believed that a man's brain was 10 percent bigger than a woman's brain and that a woman's job was to be pretty and act submissivelv. Many of her male counterparts didn't respect Rebecca, nor would they approve her prescriptions for patients or listen to her medical opinions. And yet somehow, she persevered and paved the way forcountless physicians who would come after her.

A pre-health club named The Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society at Syracuse University and the Rebecca Lee Society, one of the first medical societies for Black women, were named after her. Her Joy Street house is a stop on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

She died on March 9, 1895 in Fairview, Massachusetts.

Thank you for your contributions to medicine and humanity Doctor Crumpler.

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Rebecca Lee Crumpler, nacida el 8 de febrero de 1831, fue una doctora y escritora que después de haber estudiado en New England Female Medical College (Colegio Médico Para Mujeres Nueva Inglaterra) en 1864, se convirtió en la primera mujer negra en convertirse en doctora en los Estados Unidos. Tuvo muchos logros en su corta vida de sesenta y cuadro años.

Rebecca primero práctico medicina en Boston, principalmente para mujeres y niños de escasos recursos. Cuando finalizó la Guerra Civil en el año 1865, ella se mudó a Richmond, Virgina, creyendo que tratar a mujeres y a niños era una manera ideal de realizar trabajo misionero. Se cree que fue la primera mujer negra en publicar un artículo sobre medicina. En 1833 ella publicó una obra de dos partes llamada “Un Libro de Discursos Médicos”. La primera parte enfocada en el cuidado de los infantes y la segunda parte enfocada en la salud de la mujer.

Crumpler trabajó en la Oficina de Refugiados, Hombres Libres y Tierras Abandonadas. Ella estuvo sujeta a racismo y sexismo intenso mientras que practicó medicina.

Durante este tiempo, muchos hombres creían que el cerebro de los hombres era un diez porciento más grande que el de las mujeres y que el trabajo de la mujer era únicamente verse bonita y ser sumisa. Muchos de sus colegas hombres no le respetaban, tampoco aprobaban las recetas médicas para sus pacientes y se rehusaban a escuchar sus opiniones médicas. Sin embargo, de alguna manera, ella perseveró y pavimentó el camino para innumerables médicos que vendrían después de ella.

Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society (Sociedad de Pre-Salud Rebecca Lee) en la Universidad de Syracuse es una sociedad que fue nombrada en su honor, es una de las primeras sociedades médicas para mujeres negras. Su casa ubicada en Joy Street es una parada en Boston Women's Heritage Trail (Sendero de Patrimonios de las Mujeres de Boston).

Ella falleció el 9 de marzo de 1895 en Fairview, Massachusetts.

"But this newsprint my colleague sent me stops me cold. It makes me pause. Perhaps because it hits home in a deeper way. It drives that knife of, sometimes constant, racial pain a little further than the others.

'Black Miami doctor handcuffed while helping homeless during pandemic.'

"The story goes on to talk about Dr. Armen Henderson, a doctor in internal medicine at The University of Miami Health System, being arrested. He is arrested while standing in front of his own home. Arrested while loading tents for undomiciled individuals during the coronavirus outbreak. Imagine the humiliation. Imagine the minority stress and subsequent fears this causes Dr. Henderson and his family."

Psychiatry resident pens timely piece about #discrimination against #minority physicians, new on in-House.

there's a stigma. black men are hypersexualized, their emotions are unaccounted for, and they are ridiculed consistently. statistically, black men have the lowest life expectancy and highest death rate than any other race combined. why is that? the increasing rates of incarceration, the lack of access to health insurance, and simply the lack of education when it comes to health. 

the health of black men isn't really highlighted as much in comparison to that of other races and genders because generally, if the man is able to provide financially that's all that matters. right? WRONG! black men you should always be making sure that you are okay both mentally and physically because your health matters. I completely understand the weight that the world has placed on you but you have to make sure that you are okay. 

distrust is big thing amongst black men in regards to the systems that are placed in this country, occasionally the healthcare system. they tend to stop taking certain medications because they feel as though their physician isn't trustworthy or understands them (on a cultural basis). with this ongoing issue we can see that if there are more black men physicians in our healthcare system, a doctor-patient connection can finally be achieved. but with the high rates of debt, the minimal quality of college readiness and lack of role models in the field, there is a long way to go in order to reach this goal. 

as a take away message from this post, be aware that as you get older your health slowly deteriorates. black men, make it  a routine to get a check up to ensure that you are living the best quality that your life can provide. 

your health is your wealth,

xoxo