Shirley F. Marks facts for kids

Shirley F. Marks (born in 1946) is an American doctor who specializes in mental health, called a psychiatrist. She made history as the second African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School.

Early Life and Education

Shirley F. Marks grew up in Tyler, Texas. She went to public schools there all the way through high school.

After high school, she attended Spelman College. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology, which is the study of living things.

Then, she went to Harvard Medical School and earned her doctorate degree in 1973. This means she became a medical doctor. She also completed her training in psychiatry and earned another degree, a Master's of Public Health, in 1976 from the Harvard School of Public Health.

While at Spelman College, Shirley Marks received a special scholarship. This allowed her to study abroad in Vienna for a year, from 1967 to 1968. Another student, Maxine Hayes, also studied there at the same time. Both women returned to Spelman to finish their studies and then went on to Harvard to study medicine.

Her Career in Psychiatry

Shirley Marks started her career in 1976. She became a professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She also led a program for veterans who needed help with certain health challenges.

In the 1990s, she began to work with women who were in difficult situations. She also helped women who had experienced very tough times in their lives. Dr. Marks has always supported the idea that doctors should understand different cultures. This helps them provide better care to all their patients.

Honors and Awards

Shirley F. Marks has received several important honors for her work:

• She received the Charles Merrill Jr. Scholarship to study in Vienna from 1967 to 1968.
• In 2000, she earned a Service Award from the National Medical Association Council on Concerns of Women Physicians.
• She served as the President of the Black Psychiatrists of America.
• She was also a Director for the Texas Foundation for Psychiatric Education and Research.