Welcome back to Boss Ladies in Healthcare, a series where I celebrate pioneering women
and girls transforming the medical field.
I'm Odette and today I'm shining a light on an older invention.
The brilliant mind behind this invention is Dr. Patricia Bath.
Patricia Era Bath was an ophthalmologist, laser scientist and inventor born on November
4th of 1942 in Harlem, New York.
Bath's journey to becoming a leader figure in ophthalmology is nothing short of inspiring.
So let's take a moment to explore her early life and what ignited her passion for medicine.
So growing up in the vibrant yet challenging environment of Harlem, Patricia was encouraged
by her parents to pursue her dreams.
Her father was an immigrant from Trinidad and he was a newspaper columnist and a supporter
of the arts.
While her mother on the other hand was a housewife and domestic worker and she saved
her earnings so that she can support Patricia's education.
So this strong foundation led Patricia to excel academically and she was inspired by the stories
of medical pioneers.
So Bath's early education took place against the time of the civil rights movement, a period
of significant social change that would influence her commitment to equality in healthcare.
Her scientific curiosity was sparked during a summer program at Yeshiva University
where she studied cancer research.
So after she finished high school, Bath attended Hunter College earning a bachelor's degree
in 1964.
She then went on to Howard University College of Medicine where she earned her medical degree
in 1968.
Bath was not just a student, she was an activist participating in medical care during the civil
rights movement and co-founding the Student National Medical Association which is very
impressive.
So Bath's professional journey began to make waves during her fellowship at Columbia University
where she studied ophthalmology, her research on the incidence of blindness and the lack
of access to eye care in undeserved communities led her to develop community ophthalmology,
a discipline that combines aspects of public health which I'm a proud supporter of and
community medicine and the clinical ophthalmology to provide primary care to undeserved populations.
So I just love her stories so much because I'm so passionate about public health and
I like how she's blending her interests all together here.
And so moving on, Dr. Bath's significant invention came in 1986 when she created the
laserphaco probe, a device that revolutionized cataract surgery.
So this device used laser technology to painlessly and efficiently remove cataracts restoring
vision to patients who had been blind for decades.
This invention not only transformed cataract surgery but also cemented her place in history
as the first African American woman to receive a patent for a medical purpose.
The impact of the laserphaco probe cannot be overstated.
Before this invention, cataract surgery was a more invasive and less effective procedure.
Dr. Bath's invention improved precision, safety, and outcomes for millions of patients
worldwide.
Her work extended beyond just innovation.
She was a passionate advocate for the eradication of preventable blindness, founding the American
Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in 1976 along with Dr. Alfred Cannon and Dr.
Aaron Ifekwunigwe
So Dr. Bath's legacy is not just in her inventions but also in her pursuit of equality and healthcare
once again and she fought against the racial and gender barriers that existed in the medical
field paving the way for future generations of women and minorities in medicine.
Now I'm just so passionate about this because I do feel like there needs to be more women
who are doctors or not just necessarily nurses and preferably more women of color.
Her work has been recognized globally and she has received numerous awards and honors
including being inducted to the National Adventures Hall of Fame in 2022.
Now just a side note, as someone who is passionate about health, equity, and equality, I believe
that there's still work that needs to be done and if you're inspired by Dr. Bath, I
will love for you to like, yeah, follow her example, join an organization that is also
on this pursuit of health equity and health equality because with COVID-19 it has revealed
that there has been so much inequality and so much inequities.
So Dr. Patricia Bath passed away in May 30th 2019 but her legacy still is on through the
countless lives she's touched and the innovations she introduced.
Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and a commitment to
making the world a better place.
So I just want to thank you once again for joining me on this journey through the life
and legacy of Dr. Patricia Bath.
She truly was a boss lady in health care, breaking barriers and changing lives.
So stay tuned for the next episode where I'll continue to explore these types of stories.
These stories have truly shaped the future of medicine.
And if you haven't already, listen to the other recordings where I've talked about
Dasia Taylor that was the first episode and until then I'm Odette and this is Queen Citizens.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and yeah, follow me on social media for more
inspiring stories.
So I will hopefully have you tuning in next time.
Bye!