Celebrating Black History Month

molly56764
8 hours ago
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Black History Month | Honoring Pioneers & Modern Heroes in Heart & Aortic Care

This Black History Month, Aortic Hope honors both Black pioneers and modern day heroes whose groundbreaking work has shaped cardiovascular and aortic medicine, research, and patient advocacy. Their contributions have expanded knowledge, challenged inequities, and improved outcomes for countless patients and families.

From advancing research and clinical care to educating communities and lifting patient voices, these trailblazers laid—and continue to lay—the foundation for better, more inclusive heart and aortic health care.

We celebrate their legacy, recognize their impact, and remain committed to carrying their work forward through awareness, education, and support.

Pioneers in Cardiovascular & Aortic Care

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856–1931): Known as the "father of Black cardiology," Dr. Williams performed one of the world's first successful open-heart surgeries in 1893. He repaired a torn pericardium (the sac around the heart) and a wound to the internal mammary artery, which is a major branch of the aorta. He also founded Provident Hospital, the first non-segregated, Black-owned hospital in the U.S..
Vivien Thomas (1910–1985): Though initially hired as a janitorial lab assistant, Thomas became a master surgical technician at Johns Hopkins. He was instrumental in developing the Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunt, a procedure to treat "blue baby syndrome" (Tetralogy of Fallot). This condition often involves an overriding aorta, and Thomas’s surgical innovations were critical in managing these complex structural heart and aortic defects.
Dr. Levi Watkins (1944–2015): A legendary cardiac surgeon, Dr. Watkins performed the world’s first successful implantation of an automatic implantable defibrillator in a human patient. His work advanced the surgical techniques used today for various heart and major vessel repairs.
Dr. John Beauregard Johnson (1908–1972): A pioneer in cardiac angiography and catheterization, Dr. Johnson was the first to use these techniques to study the heart's internal structures. His research was vital in understanding the impact of hypertension—a leading cause of aortic aneurysms and dissections—on African American populations.

The Legacy of Progress

These pioneers didn't just innovate in the operating room; they built the institutions that support Black medical excellence today. Dr. Williams co-founded the National Medical Association (NMA) to provide a professional home for Black doctors excluded from other groups. Later, Dr. Richard Allen Williams founded the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) in 1974 to address the disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease in minority communities.

Today, the mission continues as researchers work to address why African Americans face a higher risk of cardiovascular death and earlier onset of conditions like hypertension, which directly impacts aortic health.

Modern Day Surgical & Clinical Trailblazers

Dr. Robert Higgins: A renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Higgins is the Executive Director and a founding member of the Association of Black Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (ABCTS). He previously served as the Surgeon-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he led advancements in complex heart and lung transplantation.
Dr. Africa Wallace: In 2023, Dr. Wallace became the first Black president of a major surgical organization, the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society. As the Director of Thoracic Surgery at Capital Health, she specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques for treating thoracic conditions.
Dr. Allison McLarty: A surgical leader at Stony Brook Medicine, Dr. McLarty specializes in aortic disease and mechanical circulatory support (ECMO/LVAD). In January 2026, she was honored with a Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Elan Burton: A clinical associate professor at Stanford Medicine, Dr. Burton is a pioneer in Robotic MIDCAB (minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass) surgery. She recently made headlines for collaborating on a highly complex combined heart-lung tumor resection.

Leaders in Research & Advocacy

Dr. Clyde Yancy: Chief of Cardiology and Vice Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern University, Dr. Yancy is a leading voice in heart failure research and identifying systemic health disparities that affect Black cardiovascular patients.
Dr. Anthony Fletcher: Installed as the President of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) in 2024, Dr. Fletcher leads national initiatives to reduce cardiovascular disease in minority communities through education and advocacy for a more diverse medical workforce.
Dr. Elizabeth Ofili: A researcher and former ABC president, she is instrumental in studies like the African American Heart Study, which investigates genetic risk factors like Lp(a) to improve precision medicine for Black patients at risk for aortic and heart diseases.