Angela D. Ferguson, M.D

She was born on February 15, 1925 in Washington, DC. Angela had loving and supportive parents along with seven siblings.

Her parents taught her and her siblings the importance of respecting others and giving back to society. Perhaps because her father was a teacher she had a love for learning. She was an honor roll student. As a young child her potential was quite obvious.

She attended Howard University in Washington, DC. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Science degree, she attended Howard's School of Medicine. At that time there were not many African-American women enrolled in medical schools. Because of this she was determined to be smarter than her male colleagues.

For a while she specialized in Pediatrics. Ultimately she teamed up with Dr. Ronald Scott in the study of sickle cell anemia in children. According to information gleaned from Black Stars African American Women Scientists and Inventors, "Dr. Ferguson studied hundreds of cases of sickle cell anemia and discovered the symptoms. She found that blood of sickle cell anemia patients is much thicker and more acidic than the blood of healthy individuals. These findings provided an innovative way to diagnose the disease. Dr. Ferguson instituted the practice of giving each newborn African-American child a blood test to detect the presence of sickle cell anemia".

Now as a result of her findings 40 states do this testing on newborn babies. She also found ways to lessen the stress that sickle cell anemia patients are confronted with while facing surgery.

Dr. Ferguson retired from Howard in 1990. Her contribution to the field of medicine is a testament of her upbringing and education. She has given hope to so many who live with this disease.

She was definitely destined to do great things. And she most certainly has contributed to her fellow man.

SOURCE:

Black Stars African American Women Scientists and Inventors. 2002 Copyright. Otha Richard Sullivan. Pages 72, 74-76.