By: Bobbi Allen-Keys
Charles Richard Drew
Charles Richard Drew
Charles Richard Drew was born on June 3rd 1904 in Washington D.C to an African American family. He is know as the Father of Blood Banking. In his early life Drew was very athletic and played various sports including, but not limited to football, basketball, and swimming. Drew went to college on an athletic scholarship but didn't have enough money to pursue his dream of going to medical school. After working as a biology instructor and coach at Morgan College, now known as Morgan State University, he enrolled in McGill University in Canada. While in Canada he studied under a British professor, Dr. John Beattie. He continued his time in Canada as an intern and a resident doctor at Montreal General Hospital.
Life Changing Discovery
Life Changing Discovery
Until long term storage for blood plasma was invented, blood was perishable and didn't last for more than a week once it was outside the body. When Charles Drew found a way to preserve blood plasma it became an effective way to preserve blood especially for this time. In the 1930's World War II caused the need for more blood which just wasn’t possible with just how perishable it was.
When soldiers needed blood from local blood banks it could take days and sometimes weeks. When the soldiers received the blood it would be too late. So if someone needed blood they needed to have a donor close by. When preserving plasma came around, it became a technique that many people adapted quickly. Not only did plasma become more useful than the whole blood itself, but it actually became safer. Blood plasma carried electrolytes and proteins which better helped patients until a better treatment plan became available. Drew became assistant director of the National Research Council and was in charge of blood collection for the U.S. Army and Navy. Drew ultimately resigned from this job because of blood segregation. He spoke out against the injustice of segregation. He later died in a car accident in 1950.
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Earned the Rockefeller Fellowship to study at Columbia University
Became the First American American to earn a Doctorate of Medical Science Degree from Columbia
Director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank
Awarded the Spingarn award
Distinguished Service Medal from the National Medical Association
Helped save US and British Soldiers.
Became the first African-American examiner for the American Board of Surgery.
Started Two blood banks
Why is this Important
Why is this Important
Even though Charles Richard Drew is dead his legacy will forever continue. His way of using plasma instead of the whole has and will continue to be used to save people lives. The Red Cross helps saves millions of lives from donated blood and plasma.
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