Myra Adele Logan

Myra Adele Logan
Myra Logan, at patient bedside, Harlem Hospital
Born1908
Tuskegee, Alabama, US
DiedJanuary 13, 1977(1977-01-13) (aged 68–69)
New York City, US
Education
  • New York Medical College
  • Columbia University (MS)
  • Atlanta University (1927)
Known forFirst woman to perform open heart surgery
Medical career
ProfessionSurgeon
Institutions
  • Harlem Hospital
  • Sydenham Hospital

Myra Adele Logan (1908 - January 13, 1977) is known as the first African American female physician, surgeon, and anatomist to perform a successful open-heart surgery. Following this accomplishment, Logan focused her work on children's heart surgery and was involved in the development of the antibiotic Aureomycin which treated bacterial, viral, and rickettsial diseases with the majority of her medical practice done at the Harlem Hospital in New York. Logan attended medical school during the pre–Civil Rights era. The majority of black female physicians in this time period were forced to attend segregated schools. Earning a medical degree as an African American woman during this time period was extremely difficult.

Apart from her work as a medical professional, Logan also dedicated her time to organizations such as the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and the New York State Commission on Discrimination.[1]

  1. ^ Emery, Crystal (2015). Against All Odds. Marrathon Production Services. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-692-55050-2.