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Year: 1986

Who: Dr. Patricia Era Bath​

Where: New York, NY

What: Dr. Patricia Bath was a pioneering ophthalmologist and laser scientist, known for her groundbreaking work in cataract surgery and blindness prevention. She was the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the United States and made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology, including inventing the laserphaco technique for cataract removal.

Born in Harlem, New York, Bath faced numerous challenges growing up, including sexism, racism, and financial hardship. Despite these obstacles, she excelled academically, earning her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completing fellowships in ophthalmology. As an intern at Harlem Hospital, Bath observed the disproportionately high rates of blindness among African Americans, leading her to propose the field of "community ophthalmology," which emphasizes accessible eye care for underserved populations.

Bath was instrumental in bringing ophthalmic surgical services to Harlem Hospital and made history as the first woman faculty member at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. In 1983, she became the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the U.S. Throughout her career, she overcame barriers in academia and research, including discrimination, by taking her work to Europe, where she was accepted for her scientific merit.

Her laserphaco invention, developed in 1981 and patented in the mid-1980s, revolutionized cataract surgery by using lasers to remove cataracts more efficiently. Bath's invention is used worldwide today. She was also a passionate advocate for blindness prevention, founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness (AIPB), which works to provide eye care services to underserved populations globally.

Bath continued her advocacy throughout her life, helping people regain their sight through surgeries and promoting telemedicine to provide medical care in remote areas. She was dedicated to improving global health and treating blindness, with a personal highlight being the restoration of sight to a woman in North Africa who had been blind for over 30 years.

Dr. Bath's legacy is marked by her innovative contributions to medicine, her advocacy for equal access to health care, and her dedication to improving the lives of those with visual impairments. She passed away in May 2019, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, ingenuity, and service to humanity.

Sources:


Journal Articles:

  • Núñez Valdés, J., Pablos Pons, F. D., & Ramos Carrillo, A. (2022). Pioneering black African American women chemists and pharmacists. Foundations, 2(3), 624-638.

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Johns Hopkins University
2800 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

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