Eve Higginbotham facts for kids
Eve Juliet Higginbotham (born November 4, 1953) is an American eye doctor and a leader in medical schools. She has held many important positions, helping to guide future doctors and improve medical education.
Her Journey to Medicine
Eve Higginbotham was born in New Orleans. Her parents were both public school teachers. She loved learning from a young age.
She went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, she studied chemical engineering and earned two degrees. After MIT, she decided to become a doctor.
In 1979, she graduated from Harvard Medical School. She then completed an internship in San Francisco. Later, she specialized in eye care, called ophthalmology, at Louisiana State University. She also studied glaucoma, an eye disease, at Harvard.
Leading Medical Schools
Dr. Higginbotham has held many important leadership roles. In 1994, she became the head of the eye department at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This was a big step in her career.
Later, she became a dean at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. A dean is a top leader in a university or college. She also worked at Howard University. There, she was a senior leader for all health sciences programs.
In 2013, Dr. Higginbotham joined the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She became the Vice Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. This role focuses on making sure everyone has a fair chance in medical education.
Important Recognition
Dr. Higginbotham has been recognized for her amazing work. In 2000, she was chosen to be part of the Institute of Medicine. This is a very respected group of health experts.
In 2009, she became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This group honors leaders in many fields.
She also helped shape how doctors get their licenses. In 2010, she joined the National Board of Medical Examiners. This group creates the tests doctors must pass to practice medicine in the United States.
The next year, she was elected to the MIT Corporation. This is the board of trustees for MIT, her old school. It shows how much her former university values her wisdom and leadership.
