Margaret E. Grigsby

Margaret E. Grigsby was a very important American doctor. She was born on January 16, 1923, in Prairie View, Texas. Her parents were John Richard and Lee (Hankins) Grigsby.

Dr. Grigsby made history in many ways. She was the first African American woman to become a fellow of the American College of Physicians. This is a high honor for doctors. She was also the first woman to lead a major medical department at Howard University Hospital. Dr. Grigsby was known for her work in Internal Medicine. She also specialized in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases. She practiced medicine in both the United States and Africa. Dr. Grigsby passed away on June 24, 2009, at age 86. She died at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Margaret Grigsby's Education

Margaret Grigsby earned her first degree from Prairie View College in 1943. After that, she went to the University of Michigan to become a medical doctor. She received her medical degree in 1947.

In 1960, Dr. Grigsby traveled to countries that were part of the Soviet Union. She shared her medical knowledge in cities like Moscow, Warsaw, and Prague. While she was abroad, she also taught medicine at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. In 1963, she earned a special Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. She received this from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Grigsby was honored in 1967 as a top professor of medicine in West Africa. Her work helped fight smallpox in Africa. For this important work, she received the Presidential Citation in 1972. This is a very high award.

Margaret Grigsby's Career

Dr. Grigsby started her medical career in 1948. She worked as an intern at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis until 1949. Then, she became an assistant resident doctor there. In 1950, she moved to Washington, D.C. She worked as an assistant resident at Freedmen's Hospital. By 1951, she was promoted to an assistant physician. In 1956, she became an attending physician at Freedmen's Hospital. During this time, she focused on internal medicine.

In 1957, Dr. Grigsby joined Howard University as an instructor of medicine. She quickly moved up the ranks. She became an assistant professor in 1957 and an associate professor in 1960. By 1966, she was a full professor.

Besides teaching, Dr. Grigsby held other important roles at Howard. From 1952 to 1971, she was the chief of infectious diseases. She also helped with the social work department from 1961 to 1963.

Dr. Grigsby also worked in Ibadan, Nigeria. She was an epidemiologist for the United States Public Health Service from 1966 to 1968. She also served as an honorary visiting professor there.

During her two years in Africa, Dr. Grigsby helped millions of people get vaccinated against smallpox. She did this through the Smallpox Eradication Program from Howard University College of Medicine. After returning from Africa, she continued teaching at Howard University. She retired in 1993.

Degrees and Awards

Dr. Grigsby received many important degrees and awards throughout her life:

• National Board Medical Examiners, American Board Internal Medicine.
• Rockefeller Foundation fellow at Harvard University, 1951-1952.
• Research fellow at Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, Boston City Hospital, 1951-1952.
• China Medical Board fellow for tropical medicine at the University of Puerto Rico, 1956.
• Commonwealth Fund Fellow at University of London, 1962-1963.
• Surgeon General’s Certificate of Appreciation, 1987.
• Leonard F. Sain Esteemed Alumni Award, 1987.