Omega Silva facts for kids

Omega C. Logan Silva (born December 4, 1936 – died April 2, 2020) was an American doctor. She was famous for two main things. First, she found out that a type of lung cancer can make a special substance called calcitonin. Second, she worked hard to make things better for people, which is called activism.

Growing Up and School

Omega C. Logan Silva went to Howard University for all her college studies. She earned a degree in chemistry in 1958. Later, in 1967, she became a doctor.

After medical school, she trained further. From 1967 to 1970, she worked at a hospital in Washington, DC. This training was in internal medicine, which means she learned to treat many different illnesses. Then, she studied endocrinology at George Washington University until 1974. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and glands in the body.

Her Work and Discoveries

Dr. Silva started her career as a chemist at the National Institutes of Health. But most of her career was spent as a doctor. After her special training in endocrinology, she became a professor at George Washington University. In 1977, she also started teaching at Howard University. She became a full professor at both universities in the 1980s and 1990s.

Her research focused on cancer. In 1974, she made an important discovery. She found that a type of small cell lung cancer could produce calcitonin. This was a big step in understanding how some cancers work.

Throughout her career, Dr. Silva was a leader. She was the first woman to lead Howard University's alumni group. She also served on the board of the National Center for Health Research. She advised the Food and Drug Administration and other health groups. Dr. Silva was also an activist. She spoke up for universal health care in the United States. She also worked to support women in medicine.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Silva received many honors and awards for her work:

• She was President of the Howard University Medical Alumni in 1983.
• President Ronald Reagan sent her a special letter in 1984.
• President Bill Clinton also sent her a thank you letter in 1995.
• She was President of the American Medical Women's Association from 2000 to 2002.
• In 2003, she became a Master of the American College of Physicians.
• The National Research Center for Women and Families gave her the Foremother Award in 2010.
• She was on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine.
• She was also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, an honor medical society.