Focus on Eyes: Spotlighting three influential Black ophthalmologists for Black History Month

February is Black History Month.

Approximately 5 percent of American ophthalmologists are of African ancestry and involved in research, education and patient care. This article celebrates three historically influential African American ophthalmologists.

Dr. David Kearney McDonogh

Dr. McDonogh (1821-1893) was the first black ophthalmologist in the United States. He was born into slavery in New Orleans.

He studied at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania to prepare for future missionary work in Liberia where many freed slaves resettled.

While he was in college, McDonogh became interested in medicine.

When he informed his former master of his intention to study medicine instead of going to Liberia, the master terminated ties and support.

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Despite the daunting challenge, McDonogh became the first African American graduate of Lafayette College in 1844 but he was rejected by every medical school that he applied to.

With the mentorship of Dr. John Kearny Rogers, who was a prominent physician and the founder of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, McDonogh was able to attend classes at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Upon completion of his study in 1847, the college refused to grant him the medical degree.

Through the support of Dr. Rogers, McDonogh practiced at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary as a specialist in eye diseases. He gained the respect of the medical community and was accepted as a fellow physician.

In 2018, Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons posthumously awarded Dr. McDonogh the medical degree that he was denied in 1847.

Dr. Charles Victor Roman

Dr. Roman (1864-1934) was the founder and first chairman of Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the Meharry Medical College.

Roman’s father was a fugitive slave and his mother was a daughter of fugitive slaves.

Roman began working at a steel mill at age 12 for five and half days a week and studied at a night school.

At age 17 he lost his job when he suffered an industrial accident which resulted in amputation of his right leg.

Roman enrolled in a local high school and completed the four year program in two years.

At age 19, he began teaching.

At the same time he was studying medicine at Meharry Medical College and graduated in 1890.

After a few years of private practice, Dr. Roman went to the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital of London to study ophthalmology and the Central London Nose, Throat and Ear Hospital to study otolaryngology.

In 1904, Dr. Roman returned to Meharry Medical College as a professor of ophthalmology and otolaryngology.

He was the founder and first chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at Meharry where he trained many black ophthalmologists and ear, nose and throat specialists.

Dr. Patricia Bath

Dr. Patricia Bath (1942-2019) grew up in poverty in Harlem, New York. She loved science and excelled in school.

She studied at Hunter College in New York and attended medical school at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

She was the first African American resident in ophthalmology at New York University. She completed a fellowship in corneal transplant at Columbia University.

At Harlem Hospital, Dr. Bath observed many African American patients were blind or severely visual impaired. But at Columbia Eye Clinic, the rate of visual handicap was significantly lowered.

She concluded that was the result of lack of access to eye care among the African Americans. She established the new discipline of Community Ophthalmology and brought eye surgery to Harlem Hospital.

In 1974 Dr. Bath moved to Los Angeles and joined the faculty at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Charles Drew University.

The following year, she became first woman faculty at UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute.

In 1983, Dr. Bath became the founder and first chair of the Ophthalmology Residency Program at Drew/UCLA. Despite suffering many instances of sexism and racism, she succeeded as an outstanding ophthalmologist, teacher, scientist and inventor.

During her retirement, Dr. Bath advocated for her passion — the prevention, treatment and cure of blindness and the dissemination of telemedicine which provided health care access in remote areas.

These three African American ophthalmologists overcame many obstacles to become leaders in the field of ophthalmology. Their stories show that diversity in physician workforce promotes health care equity and opportunity.

Dr. Frederick Ho, the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Spotlighting three pioneering Black ophthalmologists for Black History Month