Medicine
The medicine category includes the following fields: ​​
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Biomedicine
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Pharmacology
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Cardiology
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Epidemiology
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Nursing
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Dentistry
Myra King Merrick (1825-1899)
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​​​​Image Source: Hinckley Past and Present
Born: August 15, 1825 in Hinkley, Leicestershire, England
Died: November 10, 1899
Connection to Ohio:
Merrick and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was 8, and would make the move to Cleveland in 1841.
About:
First female physician in the city of Cleveland. Established the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women and later Woman’s General Hospital.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
Morton, Marion. "Merrick, Myra King." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/m/merrick-myra-king.
Woman’s General Hospital
Cole, Kimberly. "Pioneering Women Doctors - Founding the Woman's General Hospital." Cleveland Historical , https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/589.
"Woman's General Hospital." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/w/womans-general-hospital.
Woman’s Hospital (Cleveland, Ohio). This Is Your Hospital (1951). 1951. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.32526163.
Kate Parsons (1832-1907)
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​Image Source: Cleveland Historical​
Born: June 11, 1832 in Southampton, England
Died: September 3, 1907 in Cleveland, Ohio
About:
Second female physician in the City of Cleveland, cofounder of Woman’s General Hospital.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Parsons, Kate." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/p/parsons-kate.
Woman’s General Hospital:
Cole, Kimberly. "Pioneering Women Doctors - Founding the Woman's General Hospital." Cleveland Historical , https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/589.
"Woman's General Hospital." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/w/womans-general-hospital.
Woman’s Hospital (Cleveland, Ohio). This Is Your Hospital (1951). 1951. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.32526163.
Isaiah Tuppins (1854-1889)
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Image Source: Find A Grave​
Born: April 19, 1854 in Nashville, Tennessee
Died: January 10, 1889 in Xenia, Ohio
About:
Black physician who became the first African-American to graduate from Columbus Medical College. Had a practice in Rendville, Ohio, where he would later be elected as mayor, becoming the first African-American in Ohio to do so.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
Dalton, Melissa. "An Extraordinary Life Cut Short." Greene County, Ohio, 14 Dec. 2018, www.greenecountyohio.gov/Blog.aspx?IID=192.
"Dr Isaiah S Tuppins." Find A Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/149408609/isaiah-s-tuppins. *
*The web page lists his birthday as April 29th, but it is actually April 19th. The newspaper clipping accompanying the web page shows the correct birth date.
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Historical Marker:
"11-64 Rendville, Breaking the Color Barrier." Remarkable Ohio, https://remarkableohio.org/marker/11-64-rendville-breaking-the-color-barrier/.
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Lillian Wald (1867-1940)
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​Image Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Born: March 10, 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: September 1, 1940 in Westport, Connecticut
About:
Nurse who established the Henry Street Settlement in New York City. Was also an advocate of numerous social causes including civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights (Wald herself was lesbian).
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Lillian D. Wald". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lillian-D-Wald.
Steinert, Anne D. "Public Health Activist Lillian Wald has Cincinnati Roots." Cincinnati Sites and Stories, https://stories.cincinnatipreservation.org/items/show/214.
Rothberg, Emma. "Lillian Wald." National Women's History Museum, 2020, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/lillian-wald.
Cucci, Dorothy. "Lillian Wald: A Pioneer in Public Health and Serving the Community." New York Presbyterian, healthmatters.nyp.org/lillian-wald-a-pioneer-in-public-health-and-serving-the-community/
“Lillian Wald”. Jewish Women's Archive. http://jwa.org/womenofvalor/wald.
"Lillian Wald House." National Park Service, www.nps.gov/places/lillian-wald-house.htm.
Videos:
Legacy of Lillian Wald – VNSNY 125th Anniversary. YouTube, uploaded by VNS Health, 21 Sept. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot6CZtHCIQo.
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Settlement Founded by Humanitarian Lillian Wald Thriving Decades Later. YouTube, uploaded by CBS New York, 15 Oct. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8QwxOJ9pgY.
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Ida Gray Nelson Rollins (1867-1953)
Image Source: Cincinnati Magazine
Born: March 4, 1867 in Clarksville, Tennessee
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Died: May 3, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois
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About:
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Ida Gray Nelson Rollins was the first African-American woman in the United States to be a doctor of dental surgery.
Connection to Ohio:
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Rollins spent her childhood in Cincinnati and opened a dental practice in the city after she earned her degree.
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Learn More:
Online Articles:
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Drodz, Maya. "Ida Gray Nelson Rollins." Cincinnati Sites and Stories, https://stories.cincinnatipreservation.org/items/show/86.
"Women Who Inspire Us: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins." Oregon Health and Science University, www.ohsu.edu/womens-health/women-who-inspire-us-ida-gray-nelson-rollins.
"Ida Gray Nelson Rollins." Visit Clarksville Tennessee, www.visitclarksvilletn.com/plan/clarksville-connections/medicine-and-science/ida-gray-nelson-rollins/.
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Helen G. McClelland (1887-1984)
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​​Image Source: Find a Grave
Born: July 25, 1887 in Austinburg, Ohio
Died: December 1984 in Columbus, Ohio
About:
Nurse who served in World War I and saved the life of a fellow nurse who was hit in the face with shrapnel. Was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for her actions.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
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"Helen G. McClelland." Ohio Department of Veterans Services, https://dvs.ohio.gov/hall-of-fame/honorees/hof-honorees/helen-g-mcclelland.
Patterson, Jack, et al., . "#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Helen Grace McClelland." U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 30 Mar. 2022, https://news.va.gov/97989/veteranoftheday-army-veteran-helen-grace-mcclelland/#:~:text=Helen%20Grace%20McClelland%20was%20born,I%2C%20McClelland%20answered%20the%20call.
Atta, Burr V. "Helen McClelland, 97, war nurse." The Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 Dec. 1984, www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-obituary-for-h/38301293/.
Middleton Lambright Sr. (1865-1959) and Middleton Lambright Jr. (1908-1999)
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Image Source: Find A Grave, Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery
Born:
Middleton Lambright Sr: August 3, 1865 in Summerville, South Carolina
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Middleton Lambright Jr: November 7, 1908 in Kansas City, Missouri
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Died:
Middleton Lambright Sr: March 21, 1959
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Middleton Lambright Jr: June 14, 1999 in Euclid, Ohio
Connection to Ohio:
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The Lambrights moved to Cleveland in 1923.
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About:
African-American physicians who cofounded Forest City Hospital, the first interracial hospital in the City of Cleveland.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Lambright, Middleton Hugher Sr." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/l/lambright-middleton-hugher-sr.
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"Lambright, Middleton H. Jr." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/l/lambright-middleton-h-jr.
Belay, Maia. "Celebrating Black History: A look back at Cleveland’s first interracial hospital." Fox 8, 11 Feb. 2021, https://fox8.com/news/black-history-month/celebrating-black-history-a-look-back-at-clevelands-first-interracial-hospital/. (Includes video)
Forest City Hospital
Zelina, Andrew. "Forest City Hospital." Cleveland Historical , 1 May 2024, clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/1022.
"Forest City Hospital." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/f/forest-city-hospital.
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Books:
Gamble, Vanessa Northington. Making a place for ourselves: the Black hospital movement, 1920-1945. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1995.*
*Includes chapter on Forest City Hospital. See summary of chapter via the following link: https://academic.oup.com/book/3223/chapter-abstract/144155323?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
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Aileen Cole Stewart (1893-1997)
Image Source: U.S. Army
Born: 1893 in Piqua, Ohio
Died: 1997 in Tacoma, Washington
About:
African American nurse who was one of only 18 black nurses to serve in the Army Nurse Corps during the 1918 influenza pandemic. She served at Camp Sherman in Ohio, where she treated black soldiers and German POWs.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
Alexander, Kerri L. "Aileen Cole Stewart." National Women's History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/aileen-cole-stewart.
"Aileen Cole." National Park Service, 6 Mar. 2023, www.nps.gov/people/aileen-cole.htm.
Rivet, Holly. "A Woman to Know: Aileen Bertha Stewart." National Archives, 2 Feb. 2022, rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov/2022/02/02/aileen-cole-stewart/.
Historical Marker:
"7-71 Camp Sherman." Remarkable Ohio, https://remarkableohio.org/marker/7-71-camp-sherman/.
Ruby Hirose (1904-1960)
Image Source: Wikipedia
Born: August 30, 1904 in Kent, Washington
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Died: 1960 in Pennsylvania
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Connection to Ohio:
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Hirose attended the University of Cincinnati and conducted research in the city during WWII.
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About:
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Biochemist who did research on blood clotting and vaccines, including the polio vaccine.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
Dozier, Matt. “Five Fast Facts about Dr. Ruby Hirose.” Energy.gov, U.S. Department of Energy, 23 Mar. 2017, https://www.energy.gov/articles/five-fast-facts-about-dr-ruby-hirose.
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Lommen, Kristy Arbuckle. “An American-Born Japanese Girl Scientist.” Auburn Pioneer Cemetery Blog, 13 Aug. 2013, https://auburnpioneercemetery.net/blog/2013/08/an-american-born-japanese-girl-scientist/.
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Najera, René F. “Ruby Hirose: A Japanese-American Researcher Who Helped Understand Blood Clotting and Immune Reactions.” History of Vaccines (The College of Physicians of Philadelphia), 8 May 2023, https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/ruby-hirose-japanese-american-researcher-who-helped-understand-blood-clotting-and-immune-reactions.
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“Ruby Hirose — “Extra and Ordinary”.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, Smithsonian Institution, https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/ruby-hirose-extra-and-ordinary/ixDPEsYvUaq8Ao04.
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Ellamae Simmons (1918-2019)
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​​Image Source: Kaiser Permanente
Born: 1918 in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Died: 2019
About:
First black, female physician in the United States to specialize in immunology, allergies, and asthma. Was also a civil rights activist involved in integration efforts.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Ellamae Simmons — trailblazing African American physician." Kaiser Permanente, 3 Feb. 2017, https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/who-we-are/our-history/ellamae-simmons-trailblazing-african-american-physician.
Sabo, Nick. "Commemorating Dr. Ellamae Simmons." Mount Vernon News, 29 June 2020, https://mountvernonnews.com/stories/553429107-commemorating-dr-ellamae-simmons.
Historical Marker:
"15-42 Ellamae Simmons, M.D. (1918-2019) / “The Goal Will Be Met, So Long As We Persevere”." Remarkable Ohio, https://remarkableohio.org/marker/15-42-ellamae-simmons-m-d-1918-2019-the-goal-will-be-met-so-long-as-we-persevere/.
Video:
Remarkable Ohio - Dr. Ellamae Simmons. YouTube, uploaded by The Ohio Channel, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOVnDjpK9vE.
Book:
Simmons, Ellamae, and Robotham, Rosemarie. Overcome: My Life in Pursuit of a Dream. United States, Mill City Press, 2016.
Howard Junior Brown (1924-1975)
Image Source: QueerBio.com
Born: April 15, 1924 in Peoria, Illinois
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Died: February 1, 1975
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About:
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Physician and public health administrator who publicly came out as gay in 1973. Was a co-founder of the National Gay Task Force.
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Connection to Ohio:
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Brown spent his childhood in Ohio and attended an Ohio-based school: Hiram College.
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Learn More:
Online Articles:
Neumann, Caryn. "Brown, Howard (1924-1975)." GLBTQ, 2015, www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/brown_h_S.pdf.
"Howard J. Brown Society." Callen-Lorde, https://callen-lorde.org/howardjbrownsociety/.
"Who Was Howard Brown." Health Centered, Howard Brown Health, 2019, https://howardbrown.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/HBH_Quarterly_Newsletter_Summer19_final.pdf.
"Howard J. Brown Papers." The New York Public Library, https://archives.nypl.org/mss/415.
Video:
Dr. Howard J. Brown: His Life and Legacy. YouTube, uploaded by Callen-Lorde, 11 May 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L83SKI1e0z4.
Marilyn Gaston (1939-Present)
Image Source: National Library of Medicine
Born: January 31, 1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio
About:
First African-American woman to head a public health service bureau. Also authored a groundbreaking study on sickle cell disease that led to the widespread adoption of sickle cell screenings for infants.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston." Changing the Face of Medicine, 3 June 2015, https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_124.html.
¹Huggins, Amy. "Marilyn Hughes Gaston, M.D." Maryland State Archives, 16 Aug. 2006, https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014500/014533/html/14533bio.html.
"Marilyn Hughes Gaston, M.D." Maryland Women's Hall of Fame, 2006, https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/gaston.html.
"Marilyn Hughes Gaston, MD." University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/medicine/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/03/DOMIC-Honoring-Black-Physicians-Marilyn-Hughes-Gaston-MD.pdf.
Video:
Marilyn Gaston. YouTube, uploaded by Montgomerycountymd, 19 June 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ovVk2Ly-8.
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Barbara Ross-Lee (1942-Present)
Image Source: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Born: June 1, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan
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About/Connection to Ohio:
Physician who was the first African-American woman to be the dean of a medical school: Ohio University's School of Osteopathic Medicine.
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Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee." The History Makers, 25 July 2007, www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dr-barbara-ross-lee-41.
"Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee." Changing the Face of Medicine, https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/changing-the-face-of-medicine/physicians/biography_barbara_ross_lee.html.
Shynkaruk, Dmytro. "First African American Female Dean of Medical School." Michigan State University, 7 Dec. 2023, https://alumni.msu.edu/stay-informed/alumni-stories/first-african-american-female-dean-of-medical-school.
"40 Things to Know: Our college was led by the first female African American dean of a medical school." Ohio University, 17 Mar. 2016, www.ohio.edu/medicine/news-center/blog/40-things-know-our-college-was-led-first-female-african-american-dean-medical.
Videos:
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Navigating Medical School Leadership: A Conversation with Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O. YouTube, uploaded by NYITCOM, 25 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4lYjAFTVYM.
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Changing the Face of Medicine | Dr. Barbara Ross‑Lee. YouTube, uploaded by National Library of Medicine, 16 Oct. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-WNEr3w_oY.
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Charis Eng (1962-2024)
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​​Image Source: Case Western Reserve University
Born: January 17, 1962 in the Republic of Signapore
Died: August 13, 2024
Connection to Ohio:
She joined the Cleveland Clinic in 2005, which she would work at the rest of her life.
About:
Geneticist who established the Genomic Medicine Institute and was known for discovering that the PTEN gene was connected to Cowden Syndrome, an overgrowth disorder.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
"Cleveland Clinic mourns the loss of Dr. Charis Eng." Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, 15 Aug. 2024, www.lerner.ccf.org/news/article/?title=Cleveland+Clinic+mourns+the+loss+of+Dr.+Charis+Eng&id=43fdd17468dbe87cd28f077c5cd25a42e9644084.
"Dr. Charis Eng Biography." The Ohio State University, Apr. 2016, https://u.osu.edu/biorootsgroup4/dr-charis-eng-biography/.
"Charis Eng Obituary." Cleveland.com, https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/charis-eng-obituary?id=55864367.
"Charis Eng, MD, PhD." Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, www.lerner.ccf.org/genomic-medicine/eng/#:~:text=enabled%20personalized%20healthcare.-,Dr.,Harvard's%20Dana%2DFarber%20Cancer%20Institute.
Video:
Charis Eng, PhD, Honored with 2024 Sones Award. YouTube, uploaded by Cleveland Clinic, 15 Aug. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpKz08pwsuI.