Juneteenth 2010 - Levi Watkins Jr., MD { World's First Human Implantable Defibrillator- Black American Man }
Dr. Levi Watkins is a pioneer in many respects. He was educated at Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He then became the first African-American to be admitted to and to graduate from Vanderbilt's School of Medicine. After graduting from medical school, Dr. Watkins went onto become the first black chief resident in cardiac surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as well.
In February 1980, Dr. Watkins performed the world’s first human implantation of the automatic implantable defibrillator. He has subsequently developed several different techniques for the implantation of this device, and also helped to develop the cardiac arrhythmia service at Hopkins where various new open-heart techniques are now being performed to treat patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.
Dr. Watkins contributions to the university, however, extend well beyond the operating room. In 1979, he joined the admissions committee at Johns Hopkins University's Medical School. Thanks in large part to his efforts, by 1983, minority representation at the school had increased by 400%.
In February 1980, Dr. Watkins performed the world’s first human implantation of the automatic implantable defibrillator. He has subsequently developed several different techniques for the implantation of this device, and also helped to develop the cardiac arrhythmia service at Hopkins where various new open-heart techniques are now being performed to treat patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.
Dr. Watkins contributions to the university, however, extend well beyond the operating room. In 1979, he joined the admissions committee at Johns Hopkins University's Medical School. Thanks in large part to his efforts, by 1983, minority representation at the school had increased by 400%.
Hello Saint,
In so many words, Dr. Watkins is one of few Black Americans who has made it in White America’s world since Black Americans don’t have our own world or country to make it in and therefore we need to recognize Dr. Watkins for making it in White America’s world am I right.
Why don’t you concentrate on Black Americans having our own world to make it in knucklehead! You backwards thinking damn Negroes!