February 03, 2020

February is Black History Month, which is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. There have been many African American medical professionals who made a profound impact in their fields and on our society as a whole, including some in Cincinnati:

Dr. Robert Collins
Dr. Collins was born in Washington, DC, where he experienced the richness of an open and free society filled with dignitaries. But, in the summers when he and his brother went to work on his grandfather’s tobacco farm in rural Maryland, he felt the effects of Jim Crow. Dr. Collins graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy and then the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. After completing his residency in New York City, Dr. Collins returned to Cincinnati and began his medical career at Bethesda Oak Hospital. In 2008, he was promoted to Vice President of Medical Affairs at Bethesda North Hospital and in 2012, took on system wide responsibilities in this role. In 2014, he became the Chief Medical Officer and senior vice president of Quality for TriHealth. In 2017, Dr. Collins was named winner of the Business Courier’s Health Care Hero Lifetime Achievement Award as well as being recognized by the Health Collaborative with the Richard M. Smith MD Leadership in Quality Improvement Award. He currently serves on the TriHealth Board of Trustees.

Dr. Alvin H. Crawford
In 1962, Dr. Crawford left Meharry Medical College to attend the University of Tennessee College of Medicine—going from a historically black college to a racially segregated university. Before Crawford applied, it was said that there were no minority candidates “qualified” to meet the university’s standards. Dr. Crawford was admitted, although not allowed to transfer because Meharry Medical College was not considered an accredited medical school at the time. For 29 years, Dr. Crawford was the Director of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where he founded the Crawford Spine Center. In addition to having a distinguished medical career, Dr. Crawford has made it his mission to mentor future healthcare leaders.

Dr. C. Keith Melvin
Dr. Melvin is a native of Cincinnati, OH and graduate of Withrow High School. Dr. Melvin earned his Bachelors' Degree at Fisk University in Tennessee and Medical Degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1980. He was only the second African-American male to complete an Internal Medicine residency at Jewish Hospital, the oldest Jewish Hospital in the country. Dr. Melvin’s distinguished career has included practicing Emergency Medicine, Critical Care medicine and General Internal Medicine for 28 years. As a survivor of prostate cancer, Dr. Melvin is keenly aware of the health and emotional challenges posed by cancer and has led awareness and involvement programs to reduce cancer-related deaths in the African American community.

Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens
Dr. Owens holds both an MD and a Master’s of Public Health from Yale University Medical School, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Owens completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Harvard Medical School and served as a clinical instructor in reproductive endocrinology. After returning to his native Cincinnati in 1982, Dr. Owens established an in vitro fertilization program at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He achieved Cincinnati’s first successful in vitro conception and delivery as well as the first pregnancy from a frozen embryo. In recent years, Dr. Owens has served as the Hamilton County Coroner, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College President and Medical Director/Interim Health Commissioner of the Cincinnati Health Department.

Dr. Lucy Orintha Oxley
Born in 1912, the late Dr. Oxley wanted to be a doctor from her earliest years. She graduated from Woodward High School at the age of 16 before enrolling in the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine’s prestigious 6-year combined undergraduate and medical program. Despite facing ongoing discrimination, she graduated in 1935 as the first African American woman to earn a medical degree from UC. Dr. Oxley completed her internship at Freedman’s Hospital at Howard University because no other institution to which she applied would accept her. When she returned to Cincinnati, she was unable to get admitting privileges at any of the city’s hospitals, and worked in college student health services and as a cancer researcher. In 1958 she opened a private family practice in Walnut Hills. In 1984 Dr. Oxley became the first African-American woman appointed to the Ohio State Medical Board. Dr. Oxley passed away in June of 1991 from lung cancer. Throughout her illness, she continued to treat patients and at the time of her death had over 200 patients in her practice.

Thanks for the info
Posted by: Team Member on February 10, 2020
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Thank you for this recognition. We have extraordinary people making outstanding contributions in our communities, that have life-long affects on the people that we serve.
Posted by: Malisa Jones on February 06, 2020
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Thank you for that info. We have many illustrious leaders here in this city. the Damon Lynch family, the late Nathaniel Jones and our many ministers who faithfully come here to visit their parishioners to name a few. We also have The Freedom Center with its many exhibits and programs. Carol Handorf 2-6-2020
Posted by: Carol Handorf on February 06, 2020
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So inspiring!
Posted by: Heather Brasfield-Gorrigan on February 05, 2020
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Extremely inspiring. I enjoyed reading each and everyone of these remarkable stories. Thank you
Posted by: Bobbie Henderson on February 05, 2020
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Remarkable stories! Very inspiring. Thank you.
Posted by: Susan Clark on February 05, 2020
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These profiles highlight the unyielding drive and determination that is exemplified by African-American physicians. Roosevelt Walker III, MD
Posted by: Roosevelt Walker on February 05, 2020
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What a wonderful tribute to some of our very own Black History Makers in Cincinnati and their many accomplishments and "firsts". Thank You!
Posted by: Nyota Stoker on February 05, 2020
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The stories of these great African-American medical pioneers inspire us all to do and be all we can, to help the community and make the world better!
Posted by: Nancy Carroll on February 05, 2020
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As a side note, the first three Physicians are members of the first Black Greek Collegiate Fraternity; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. this Fraternity was founded December 4th, 1906 at Cornell University.
Posted by: Brian Moragne on February 05, 2020
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All of them are inspiring, thank you.
Posted by: Lucius Ramsey on February 05, 2020
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Kudos
Posted by: Paul Waller on February 05, 2020
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Thanks for the inspiring stories of these great Americans!
Posted by: Beverly Oberhelman on February 05, 2020
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Awesome post! I am excited to see Trihealth bridging the gap and coming together to educate our team members on the value of Diversity here in our community. We celebrate the achievements by African Americans each year in the U.S. I enjoyed reading the articles above.
Posted by: Cathy Lee on February 05, 2020
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Great article, thank you for highlighting physicians from other organizations!!!!!!
Posted by: Shanda Scott on February 05, 2020
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Great Post: thanks to Everyone for their Sacred Work!
Posted by: MichaelJeff Hill on February 04, 2020
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Nice Post. Would like to see even more included.
Posted by: Micaiah Yhisrael on February 04, 2020
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So inspirational! Thank you for sharing the stories of these Cincinnati Medical Pioneers from the African-American Community.
Posted by: Aminah Clark on February 04, 2020
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Since its Black History Week lets have a Medical post everyday this month..This is awesome
Posted by: Team Member on February 04, 2020
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