Every February, the U.S. honors the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation. Black History Month celebrates the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an indelible part of our country’s history.

Let’s take a look at the contributions of Dr. Charles Drew to medicine as we celebrate Black History Month.  While attending medical school at McGill University, in Montreal, Charles Drew developed an interest in blood transfusions and the properties of blood. As a surgeon, he produced innovative ways to store blood plasma in blood banks. Plasma can be preserved or “banked” longer than whole blood. Drew discovered that the plasma could be dried and reconstituted later.

His work as the director of the first blood bank project in Britain during World War II helped save thousands of lives. He oversaw the successful collection of 14,500 pints of vital plasma for the British. He also established the American Red Cross blood bank and served as its director starting in 1941. He quit, however, when the Red Cross insisted on segregating African American blood.

From 1942 to 1945, Dr. Drew served as a surgeon and professor of medicine at Freemen’s Hospital and Howard University in Washington, DC. He died at age 46 in a car accident. 

In February, and everyday we celebrate the contributions of African Americans to society.

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