Velma Scantlebury facts for kids

Dr. Velma Scantlebury, also known as Velma Scantlebury-White, was born on October 6, 1955, in Barbados. She is an American surgeon who specializes in organ transplants. She made history as the first Black woman transplant surgeon in the United States.

Dr. Scantlebury has received many awards and has been recognized as one of the "Best Doctors in America" multiple times. She received the "Woman of Spirit Award" for inspiring others. She also earned the "Gift of Life Award" from the National Kidney Foundation. For her work in teaching people about organ transplants, she received the Gold Crown of Merit from the Order of Barbados. Dr. Scantlebury has performed over 2,000 organ transplants and has written many scientific papers.

Early Life and School Years

Velma Patricia Scantlebury was born on October 6, 1955, in Goodland, Barbados. Her parents were Kathleen and Delacey Whitstanley Scantlebury. She went to Alleyne School in Barbados for three years.

In 1969, when Velma was 14, her family moved to New York City. She finished high school at Prospect Heights High School in Brooklyn. In 1973, she started studying biology at Long Island University Brooklyn. She was offered a scholarship to another college, but she chose to stay in Brooklyn. She did very well in her studies there.

Becoming a Doctor and Surgeon

Velma graduated with her biology degree in 1977. She was accepted into two top medical schools: Yale School of Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She chose to attend Columbia and earned her medical degree in 1981.

Even though some of her professors tried to discourage her, Dr. Scantlebury decided to become a surgeon. She completed her general surgery training at Harlem Hospital Center. There, she found a great mentor in Dr. Barbara Barlow, who led the pediatric surgery department.

Choosing a Specialty: Transplant Surgery

During her third year of surgical training, Dr. Scantlebury started looking into different medical specialties. She met Dr. Mark M. Ravitch, a famous surgeon, at the University of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. This meeting convinced her to study pediatric transplantation, which is surgery for children needing new organs.

In 1986, Dr. Scantlebury began her special training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She worked under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Starzl, a pioneer in transplant surgery. She spent two years gaining experience in clinical work.

First Black Woman Transplant Surgeon

From 1988 to 2002, Dr. Scantlebury worked as a transplant surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 1989, she earned her Doctor of Surgery degree. This made her the first African-American woman transplant surgeon in the United States.

In 1989, she married Dr. Harvey White. That same year, she received the "Gift of Life Award" from the National Kidney Foundation. She also started teaching as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1996, she received the Carlow University Woman of Spirit award for inspiring other women.

By 2002, Dr. Scantlebury became an associate professor. She was then invited to join the University of South Alabama (USA). There, she became a surgical professor and the director of the USA's Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Centre.

Awards and Recognition

In 2003, Dr. Scantlebury was honored as one of the "Best Doctors in America." She was also added to the Achievers Hall of Fame by the United Negro College Fund. She was listed as one of the "Top Doctors in America" in both 2004 and 2006.

In 2006, Dr. Scantlebury started a program called Linkages to Life. She worked with other surgeons and organizations to teach the Black community about organ transplants. This program helped to correct misunderstandings about transplants. For her important work, she was recognized by the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association. She also received the Gold Crown of Merit from the Order of Barbados.

Leading a Kidney Transplant Program

In 2008, Dr. Scantlebury accepted a new role at the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware. She became the director of their kidney transplant program, and her family moved there.

Throughout her career, Dr. Scantlebury has performed over 2,000 organ transplants. She has also written more than 85 research papers for scientific journals. Additionally, she has contributed to 10 monographs and several book chapters.

See also

In Spanish: Velma Scantlebury para niños