By: Bethel Yeshiwas THE RISE OF SPECIALTIES

HISTORY MATTERS Dr. W. Montague Cobb

DIFFICULTIES Segregation and Discrimination Institutionalized Racism Missing documentation or certifications Paranoia

The Arabic for physician is Al Hakim, "The philosopher" or "The wise man". Physicians are more than highly skilled technicians. They assume places of leadership in their communities. We in medical education have a real responsibility not only to impart the necessary tools of knowledge and skill but to so influence young men and women that they will assume their rightful places as your associates. The student of today is your colleague of tomorrow. Your advice, your support, your help will determine his caliber. ~Dr. W. Harry Barnes (The Medical Bulletin, State University of Iowa, Fall 1953)

On today in 1953, Clarence Sumner Greene Sr. became the first African American Neurosurgeon. He was certified by the American Board of Neurological. Dr. Greene was also appointed as chair of neurosurgery at Howard University, where he treated intracranial aneurysms, brain tumors, and herniated intervertebral discs.