Charles R. Drew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Richard Drew
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Charles Richard Drew
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| Born | June 3, 1904 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | April 1, 1950 (aged 45) |
| Alma mater | Amherst College McGill University Columbia University |
| Known for | Blood banking, blood transfusions |
| Awards | Spingarn Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | General surgery |
| Institutions | Freedman's Hospital Morgan State University Montreal General Hospital Howard University |
| Doctoral advisor | John Beattie |
Charles Richard Drew (born June 3, 1904 – died April 1, 1950) was an amazing American surgeon and medical scientist. He made huge discoveries about blood transfusions and found better ways to store blood. His ideas helped create big blood banks at the start of World War II. These blood banks saved thousands of lives during the war.
Dr. Drew, who was an important African American doctor, strongly disagreed with the unfair rule that separated blood donations based on race. He believed this rule made no scientific sense and even resigned from his job at the American Red Cross because of it.
Charles Drew's Early Life and Education
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Charles Drew was born in Washington, D.C. in 1904. He came from a middle-class African-American family. His father, Richard, laid carpets, and his mother, Nora, was a trained teacher. Charles grew up with his three younger siblings in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.
Even as a young boy, Charles worked hard. He delivered over a thousand newspapers every day. He went to Dunbar High School, which was known for giving good opportunities to all students, even during a time when racial unfairness was common.
Charles was a talented athlete. He won a scholarship to Amherst College in Massachusetts. There, he played football and was on the track and field team. He graduated in 1926. To save money for medical school, Charles worked for two years at Morgan College in Baltimore, Maryland. He taught chemistry and biology, coached football, and was the first athletic director.
He wanted to become a doctor and applied to several medical schools. He chose McGill University in Montreal, Canada, to start his studies right away.
At McGill, Charles Drew worked with a researcher named John Beattie. They studied how blood transfusions could help people in shock. Shock happens when someone loses a lot of blood or fluids, causing their body to shut down. Transfusions were a solution, but it was hard to move or store blood back then.
Charles was an excellent student. He was one of the top students in his class at McGill and earned his medical degree in 1933.
After McGill, Dr. Drew taught at Howard University and worked as a surgeon at Freedman's Hospital. In 1938, he went to Columbia University in New York City for more advanced studies. He received a special scholarship to research surgery.
For his doctoral degree, he studied how to preserve blood. He discovered that blood plasma (the liquid part of blood) could be stored for much longer if it was separated from the blood cells. When needed, the plasma could be turned back into its liquid form. This amazing discovery earned him his Doctor of Science in Medicine degree in 1940. He was the first African American to achieve this.
Helping Britain During World War II
In late 1940, before the United States joined World War II, Dr. Drew was asked to help with a special project. He used his new knowledge about blood preservation to create a system for storing and transporting blood. His job was to collect, test, and send large amounts of blood plasma to the United Kingdom. This plasma was desperately needed to help British soldiers and civilians.
Dr. Drew knew how to safely separate plasma from blood. He made sure everything was done carefully to prevent contamination. He used special methods like keeping air out, using ultraviolet light, and adding a special medicine to keep the plasma clean.
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He became the medical director for the "Blood for Britain" project in New York City. He set high standards for all hospitals involved, making sure that only clean and safe plasma was sent to Britain.
Dr. Drew set up a main center where people could donate blood. He made sure every donation was tested before shipping. He also insisted that only trained experts handle the plasma to keep it safe. The "Blood for Britain" program was a huge success. In just five months, nearly 15,000 people donated blood, and over 5,500 vials of plasma were sent. Dr. Drew received much praise for his important work.
Leading the American Red Cross Blood Bank
Because of his amazing work, Dr. Drew was chosen to be the director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank in 1941. He also came up with the idea for bloodmobiles. These were like mobile clinics that could travel to different places to collect blood and keep it cold. This made it much easier for more people to donate blood.
The Red Cross blood bank provided blood to the U.S. Army and Navy. However, there was an unfair rule at the time: the military first refused blood from African Americans. Later, they would only accept it if it was kept separate from the blood of white donors. Dr. Drew strongly believed this rule was wrong and had no scientific basis. He felt that all blood was the same and equally valuable. In 1942, he bravely resigned from his position to protest this unfair policy.
Awards and Recognition
In 1941, Dr. Drew was recognized for his outstanding skills. He became the first African American surgeon to serve as an examiner for the American Board of Surgery. This was a very important achievement.
Dr. Drew continued his work as a surgeon and professor at Freedman's Hospital and Howard University. In 1944, he received the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. This award honored his incredible contributions to the blood projects for Britain and the United States. He also received honorary degrees from Virginia State College in 1945 and Amherst College in 1947.
Dr. Drew's Family Life
In 1939, Charles Drew married Minnie Lenore Robbins. She was a professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. They had three daughters and one son. His daughter, Charlene Drew Jarvis, later became a well-known leader in Washington, D.C.. She served on the city council and was president of Southeastern University.
The Death of Charles Drew
Every year, Dr. Drew traveled to Tuskegee, Alabama, to help at a free clinic. In 1950, he was driving there with three other doctors. On April 1, around 8 a.m., Dr. Drew, who was tired from working all night, lost control of the car. The car crashed into a field. The other doctors had minor injuries, but Dr. Drew was severely hurt and trapped.
Emergency workers quickly arrived. Dr. Drew was taken to Alamance General Hospital in Burlington, North Carolina. Sadly, he passed away about 30 minutes after receiving medical attention. His funeral was held on April 5, 1950, in Washington, D.C..
There is a popular story that Dr. Drew died because he was refused treatment at a hospital due to his race. This story has been told in TV shows and books. However, it is a myth. One of the doctors who was with him in the car, John Ford, said that Dr. Drew's injuries were so severe that nothing could have saved him. This myth likely spread because, at that time, it was sadly common for African American people to be denied hospital care because of unfair racial rules.
Dr. Charles Drew's Lasting Legacy
Dr. Charles Drew left behind an incredible legacy. His work changed medicine forever and saved countless lives. Many places and institutions have been named in his honor:
- In 1976, his home in Arlington County, Virginia, was recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
- In 1981, the United States Postal Service honored him with a special 35-cent postage stamp.
- The Charles Richard Drew Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. is named after him.
- The USNS Charles Drew, a U.S. Navy ship, carries his name.
- Parc Charles-Drew is a park in Montreal, Canada, where he studied medicine.
- In 2002, he was listed as one of the "100 Greatest African Americans" by scholar Molefi Kete Asante.
Many schools and health centers also bear his name, including the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Medical and Higher Education Institutions
- The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in California was named in his honor in 1966.
- Charles Drew Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
- Charles Drew Science Enrichment Laboratory at Michigan State University.
- Charles Drew Community Health Center in Burlington, North Carolina.
- Charles R. Drew Wellness Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
- Dr. Charles Drew Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center in Washington D.C..
- Charles R. Drew Hall, a freshman dorm at Howard University.
- Charles Drew Memorial Cultural House at Amherst College, his alma mater.
K-12 Schools Named After Dr. Drew
- Charles R. Drew Middle School in Los Angeles Unified School District.
- Charles R. Drew Middle School in Lincoln, Alabama.
- Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School in Buffalo, NY.
- Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Miami Beach and Pompano Beach, Florida.
- Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Colesville, Maryland.
- Charles Drew Elementary School in Washington, DC.
- Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia.
- Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School in New Orleans, LA.
- Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Dr. Charles Drew Academy in Ecorse, Michigan.
- Drew Academy in Houston, Texas.
- Charles R. Drew Intermediate School in Crosby, Texas.
- Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School in San Francisco, Ca.
- Charles Richard Drew Educational Campus in the Bronx, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Charles Richard Drew para niños
