James E. Bowman facts for kids

James Edward Bowman Jr. (February 5, 1923 – September 28, 2011) was an important American doctor and scientist. He was a specialist in understanding diseases (pathology), blood (hematology), and how traits are passed down through families (genetics). Dr. Bowman taught at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

He wrote over ninety papers about human genetics and the ethical questions that come with it. He received many awards for his work, including the Chicago African American History Makers Award.

Early Life and Education

James Edward Bowman was born in Washington, D.C., on February 5, 1923. He was the oldest of five children. His mother, Dorothy Bowman, was a homemaker. His father, James Edward Bowman Sr., was a dentist. Both of his parents were African-American.

He went to Dunbar High School. Later, he earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Howard University. This was in 1943 and 1946. He completed his medical training at Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, D.C., and Provident Hospital in Chicago. He was the first African American resident in pathology at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago. He became certified in pathology in the early 1950s.

A Career in Science

After his training, Dr. Bowman became the head of pathology at Provident Hospital in Chicago. From 1953 to 1955, he worked as the chief of pathology for the Medical Nutrition Laboratory at Fitzsimons Army Hospital.

Moving Overseas

After leaving the military, Dr. Bowman and his wife decided to move overseas. They wanted to avoid places that had segregation. He became the head of pathology at Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran. He said this move "changed our lives completely." Their daughter, Valerie, was born there.

In Iran, Dr. Bowman saw many diseases he had not seen before. These included smallpox and rabies. He also saw a common blood condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency favism. This condition is caused by a missing enzyme in red blood cells. People with it cannot properly break down a toxin found in fava beans.

Discoveries in Genetics

This led Dr. Bowman to make important discoveries about inherited blood diseases. He studied how these diseases affected people in the Middle East, Africa, and America. He traveled worldwide to collect blood samples for DNA testing. He also worked with researchers from the University of Chicago. They had first described the enzyme deficiency (G6PD) and its link to medicines used for malaria.

Work at the University of Chicago

In 1962, Dr. Bowman joined the University of Chicago. He started as an assistant professor of medicine and pathology. He also directed the hospital's blood bank. By 1971, he became a full professor and director of laboratories.

From 1973 to 1984, he led the university's Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. This center helped patients with sickle cell disease and supported research. He also helped start this national center, which became a model for patient care. From 1986 to 1990, he was the assistant dean of students for minority affairs at the Pritzker School of Medicine.

Views on Health Policy

In 1972, Dr. Bowman spoke out about mandatory sickle cell screening laws. He believed these laws could cause more harm than good. He worried they might bring back unfair practices from the past. He also said that adult screening programs sometimes spread "inaccurate, misleading... propaganda."

In 1973, he joined two federal committees. These groups oversaw sickle cell screening and education. They also checked laboratory testing methods.

Legacy and Recognition

Dr. Bowman was the first tenured African-American professor in the University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division. After he passed away, the University of Chicago created the Bowman Society. This group supports minority scholars in biomedical sciences. It also organizes a regular lecture series.

In 2020, the university honored him by naming a distinguished professorship after him. This was the James E. Bowman Jr. Professor in the Biological Sciences. He was also a fellow at the Hastings Center, which studies ethics in science.

Personal Life

Dr. Bowman was married to Barbara Bowman, who was an educator. They had one daughter, Valerie Bowman Jarrett. Valerie later became a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama.

James Bowman passed away from cancer on September 28, 2011. He was 88 years old and died at the University of Chicago Medical Center.