🔹 Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895) – The first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree. She focused on maternal and child health and wrote one of the first medical guides for families.
🔹 Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904–1950) – A pioneering surgeon and researcher who developed methods for blood storage and transfusion, revolutionizing medical care, including for pregnant and postpartum people.
🔹 Dorothy Ferebee (1898–1980) – A physician and public health advocate who worked tirelessly to improve Black maternal and infant health, especially in underserved communities.
🔹 Dr. Jocelyn Elders (b. 1933) – The first Black U.S. Surgeon General, she advocated for comprehensive reproductive and maternal healthcare.
🔹 Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951) – While not a doctor, her cells (HeLa cells) were unknowingly used in groundbreaking medical research, contributing to advancements in fertility, prenatal care, and countless medical treatments.
🔹 Margaret Charles Smith (1906–2004) – A legendary midwife in Alabama who delivered over 3,500 babies in rural communities without losing a mother.
🔹 Mary Coley (1900–1966) – A Georgia midwife whose work was captured in the documentary All My Babies, which was used to train midwives nationwide.
🔹 Shafia Monroe (b. 1957) – A modern birth justice advocate, midwife, and founder of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing, preserving Black midwifery traditions.
🔹 Jennie Joseph – A contemporary midwife and advocate for improved maternal health outcomes, known for her "The JJ Way" model that reduces Black maternal mortality.