Clive O. Callender facts for kids

Clive O. Callender is an American surgeon and professor who has made a huge difference in medicine. Born in 1936, he became a professor of surgery at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He is especially known for his work with organ transplants and for helping more people from minority groups become organ donors.

Early Life and Education

Clive Callender was born in New York City. He went to public schools there. He studied chemistry and physiology at Hunter College, earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Later, he earned his medical degree (M.D.) from Meharry Medical College.

After medical school, Dr. Callender completed special training in surgery. He trained at hospitals like Harlem Hospital and Freedmen's Hospital. In 1969, he joined the teaching staff at Howard University College of Medicine.

A Pioneer in Transplant Surgery

Dr. Callender then went on to get even more specialized training. He completed a fellowship in transplant surgery at the University of Minnesota. There, he worked with famous surgeons like John Najarian.

In 1974, Dr. Callender returned to Howard University. He founded the Howard University Hospital Transplant Center. This was a very important step, as it was the first transplant center at a historically Black medical school. He was also only the third African American transplant surgeon in the country.

Helping More People: The MOTTEP Program

Dr. Callender noticed that not enough African Americans were donating organs. This made it harder for people in need of transplants to get them. To help fix this, he started the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) in 1991.

MOTTEP's goal was to teach people about the importance of organ donation. The program received a lot of funding over 20 years to help with its mission. Thanks to MOTTEP, the number of African American organ donors more than tripled! Dr. Callender also fought against unfair rules in how organs were given out.

Continued Work and Achievements

Dr. Callender has written over one hundred scientific papers. In 1996, he became a Professor of Surgery and the head of the Department of Surgery at Howard University. He is a national expert who speaks often about organ donation. He especially focuses on helping African Americans, who are more likely to suffer from kidney failure.

A Life of Service

Dr. Callender is a lifelong Christian. Early in his career, he served as a medical missionary in Africa, helping people in need. He has also been recognized for his dedication. In 2014, he received a National Minority Donor Awareness Award. He also received an honorary doctoral degree from Howard University.