African Americans and their Contribution in Human Health | Educational Blog | Darnita Anderson Hill

The problem of discrimination is not new in America. For hundreds of years, blacks in the United States of America have faced racism and discrimination and were treated as slaves. It took a lot of effort and courage for the African Americans to prove themselves in every field. Both the racism problem and the ignorance of the efforts of African Americans in the field of medicine have been disregarded also. The contribution of the blacks in making the science of human health better was hardly acknowledged. This impacted the African American community negatively. Even just a decade ago American Medical Association acknowledged the efforts of black physicians in America in 2008. The AMA also apologized to the National Medical Association for the exclusion of black physicians and racism faced by black healthcare within the medical field. Many African Americans have made profound efforts in the field of medicine. To name a few we have Dr. James Durham from 1783, Dr. James McCune Smith from 1837, and Dr. David Jones Peck from 1847. To read about the contribution of the Blacks in healthcare science one can get several historical references. To appreciate and assemble the contributions of the Blacks in the field of medical science and particularly in osteopathy Darnita Hill has penned down a book called, “Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come – The Contributions of Blacks in the History and Transformation of Medicine, Osteopathy, and Human Health”. The book is an anthology of Black history in medical science in general with a special focus on the contribution of the Blacks in osteopathy. Dr. Darnita Anderson through her book “Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come – The Contributions of Blacks in the History and Transformation of Medicine, Osteopathy, and Human Health”, wants to signify the ongoing evolution of osteopathy in which Black healthcare professional played a vital role. About the Author Born in the early 1960s, author Darnita Anderson Hill was born as the daughter of Dr. William Anderson, America’s first African American president of the American Osteopathic Association. Inspired by her father she became a doctor too. She obtained her undergraduate at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Darnita obtained her medical degree from Michigan State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine –and specialized osteopathic medicine. She is a determined and dedicated healthcare professional who uses a holistic and natural approach while providing care to her patients. Being an enthusiast of osteopathy she dedicates her time learning and researching more and more about the history and science of osteopathy. With the same goal, she wrote the book“Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come – The Contributions of Blacks in the History and Transformation of Medicine, Osteopathy, and Human Health”.