Velma Scantlebury facts for kids

Dr. Velma Scantlebury (born October 6, 1955) is a famous surgeon who was born in Barbados and later became an American citizen. She made history as the first Black woman to become a transplant surgeon in the United States.

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

Early Life and School Days

Velma Patricia Scantlebury was born on October 6, 1955, in Goodland, St. Michael Parish, 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 wanted to avoid putting a financial burden on her family. She did very well in her studies there.

Becoming a Doctor and Surgeon

In 1977, Velma graduated with her biology degree. 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, 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.

During her third year of training, she started looking into different medical specialties. She met Dr. Mark M. Ravitch at the University of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. He was a pioneer in using medical stapling. After meeting him, she decided to specialize in pediatric transplantation, which is surgery to move organs from one body to another in children. In 1986, she began her special training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She worked under the famous Dr. Thomas Starzl for two years.

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 to become a transplant surgeon.

In that same year, she married Dr. Harvey White. She also received the "Gift of Life Award" from the National Kidney Foundation. She began 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, she became an associate professor. Later, she was invited to join the University of South Alabama (USA) as a surgery professor. She also became the director of the USA's Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Centre.

Awards and Recognition

In 2003, Dr. Scantlebury was named one of the "Best Doctors in America." She was also honored by the United Negro College Fund. In 2004 and 2006, she was listed as one of the "Top Doctors in America."

In 2006, she 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 clear up misunderstandings about transplants. For her important work, she received awards from the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association. She also received the Order of Barbados Gold Crown of Merit.

Leading a Kidney Transplant Program

In 2008, Dr. Scantlebury accepted a new job 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 and several book chapters. Her work has greatly helped many patients and advanced the field of transplant surgery.

See also

In Spanish: Velma Scantlebury para niños