Gene-Ann Polk Horne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gene-Ann Polk Horne
Gene-Ann Polk, from a 2015 obituary.
Born	Gene-Ann Polk October 3, 1926 Roselle, New Jersey
Died	January 3, 2015 Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Occupation	Physician, hospital administrator, professor

Gene-Ann Polk Horne (born October 3, 1926 – died January 3, 2015) was an important American doctor and hospital leader. She was known professionally as Gene-Ann Polk. She worked at Harlem Hospital for many years. She also taught about children's health at Columbia University.

Early Life and Education

Gene-Ann Polk was born in Roselle, New Jersey. Her parents were Charles Carrington Polk and Olive Mae Bond Polk. Both of her parents went to Howard University. Her father was a doctor, just like she would become. Her mother was very active in the community. She helped with Girl Scouts and worked on health and education projects.

When she was young, Gene-Ann loved music. She played both the piano and the cello. She was so good that she was chosen for the New Jersey All-State Orchestra twice!

She finished high school at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle. She first studied music at Howard University. Then, she moved to Oberlin College and earned her bachelor's degree in 1948. She later went to the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. There, she earned her medical degree in 1952. She also earned a master's degree in public health from Columbia University.

Her Amazing Career

Dr. Polk had a very long and important career at Harlem Hospital. She started there in 1953 as a resident doctor. She worked there until she retired in 1994.

She held many leadership roles at the hospital. From 1968 to 1975, she was the director of pediatric ambulatory care. This meant she oversaw the care for children who came to the hospital for appointments but did not stay overnight. From 1975 to 1978, she was the director of pediatrics. Then, from 1978 to 1994, she directed all ambulatory care services.

Dr. Polk also cared about art. She led the Cultural Affairs committee at the hospital from 1988 to 1994. She helped protect and restore the hospital's WPA murals. These are special artworks created during the Great Depression.

Besides her work at the hospital, Dr. Polk was also a professor. She taught clinical pediatrics at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. She taught there from 1962 until 1994.

Dr. Polk was also an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. This is a group for African-American college-educated women. She also helped start the Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society. This group supports women in medicine. In 2014, she shared her life story in an interview. This interview is now kept at Harvard University.

Personal Life

Gene-Ann Polk married Edwin Clay Horne, who was an oral surgeon. They lived in Englewood, New Jersey. They had two children, a son named Edwin and a daughter named Carol.

Dr. Gene-Ann Polk passed away in January 2015. She was 88 years old. She died at her home in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. Her important papers and records are kept at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.