Today In Black History
Dr. Leonidas Berry, Physician and Medical Inventor
Issue #481 Today In Black History, Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Today’s Black History WOW!
Leonidas Berry, a grandson of a self-emancipated slave who fought in the Civil War, was born on July 20, 1902, in rural North Carolina. As a young boy, he experienced firsthand the disparities in healthcare faced by African Americans in the segregated South and decided to pursue a career in medicine.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Virginia Union University, Berry went on to attend Howard University College of Medicine. At Howard, he was exposed to the work of prominent African American physicians, which further fueled his passion for addressing health disparities.
Upon receiving his medical degree, Dr. Berry joined the United States Army Medical Corps during World War II. He served as a medical officer, providing care to soldiers and civilians alike. Dr. Berry earned the rank of Major and later received the Army Commendation Medal for his exceptional service.
Following his military service, Dr. Berry continued his medical training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He invented the Eder-Berry biopsy gastroscope in 1955, which made it easier for doctors to collect tissue from the inside of the stomach without surgery.
Five years after inventing his gastroscope, Dr. Berry studied the stomachs of alcoholics. He discovered that it was the liver and not the stomach, that became diseased because of too much alcohol. This changed the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism forever.
Dr. Berry’s lifelong mission was to improve Black health outcomes. He focused on preventive medicine and played a pivotal role in establishing community health centers in underserved areas. Dr. Berry believed in the power of education and dedicated himself to teaching future generations of physicians.
Dr. Berry also actively participated in civil rights movements, advocating for equality and social justice. He recognized that health disparities were deeply rooted in systemic racism and worked tirelessly to address these issues through policy change and community engagement.
Throughout his career, Dr. Berry received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He also served as the president of the National Medical Association, where he championed initiatives to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity.
Dr. Leonidas Berry died in Chicago, Illinois, on December 4, 1995, at age 93.
Today In Black History
- In 1797, Prince Hall led the first Black Masons of Boston, Massachusetts in establishing the first Black interstate organization.
- In 1797, Congress refused to accept the first petition submitted by African Americans.
- In 1844, Richard Theodore Greener became the first African American to graduate from Harvard University.
- In 1858, William Wells Brown, novelist and dramatist, published the first Black drama, “Leap to Freedom.”
- In 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters Basketball team was formed.
- In 1956, the home of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was bombed while his wife and daughter were inside.
- In 1960, the African National Party was founded in Chad.
- In 1965, Leroy Satchel Paige was named the all-time outstanding baseball player by the National Baseball Congress.
- In 1977, the 8th episode of “Roots” became the most-watched TV episode in history.
- In 1979, Franklin Thomas was named president of the Ford Foundation.
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