FIRST BLOOD BANK PIONEER - CHARLES DREW

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Charles Drew was a black physician pioneer who was born June 3, 1904 , in Washington, DC. He was the oldest of five children to Richard and Nora Drew.

He excelled in spots and academic studies. The first college that he attended and graduated from was Amherst, Massachusetts. His athletic ability was noticed and he was honored as being the most valuable player of the year. Upon graduation from Amherst, he was employed as a biology teacher at Morgan State University, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Drew had a longing for medicine and wanted to become a physician, so he went to Montreal, Canada, at the Mc Gill University. He excelled and was honored again as a member of the Medical Honorary Society. Drew graduated in 1933 having earned a Master of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine Degree, out of a class of 127 he ranked number two scholastically. He stayed in Montreal for a few years.

When Dr. Drew return to the United States he took a position at Howard University as a pathologist. He later also became employed as a research professor doing research in Blood Banking. Dr. Drew had previous been involved in Montreal in the preservation of blood, and taking the liquid portion of blood know as plasma, to transfuse patients. At that time they had no means to preserve blood any longer than 2 days. But Dr. Drew found that if you separated the blood cells from the liquid portion they could keep the blood longer.

The most vital part of the blood research they came up with 4 blood types:

-O the most common - Universal donor

-A the second type of blood

-B somewhat rare type

--AB the rarest type

It was researched that you would have to receive your own blood type, or it could cause a reaction, and possibly death to the patient. Type O blood can be given to all blood types if needed. In the early day patients were also injected with medicines to neutralize the blood to prevent any reaction of receiving blood transfusions. Blood Banking is a complicated medical science branch of the laboratory. A pathologist is the head of the laboratories. I was a Blood Banking Specialist for over 10 years, and explaining the process to lay persons is not that easy. There are a lot of unknown factors that have to be taken into consideration in the process.

Dr. Drew earned a reputation for his research and he was invited to serve as Blood Transfusion Director in New York City. In September 29, 1939 he married Lenore Robbins and they had four children. His position in New York led to his becoming the supervisor of providing plasma to the British Blood Banks.

Dr. Drew's illustrious career turned again during world war II, when he was named by the Red Cross to be a project Director for Blood Transfusions. The United States War Department issued an order that blood should be kept separate, that was from white donors. This was very upsetting for Dr. Drew, since he was a black physician. He faced segregation in the early days from fellow physicians and the United States War Department.

He resigned and returned to Howard University in Washington, DC. Howard University at that time was a Black University. He continued to receive awards for his outstanding contribution to the Medical Society. In 1949 he was appointed Surgical Consultant for the United States Army European Theater of Operations. Dr. Drew faced a lot of discrimination during his lifetime, and he did not let that stop him from being outstanding, Segregation will only hinder the individual if you let it, and he didn't let it stop him. I personally have a lot of respect for Dr. Drew since he was a pioneer and contributed a lot to medicine, and the saving of lives.

In 1950 Dr. Drew died from injuries sustained from an automobile accident that was fatal. However his work opened the door to the modern Blood Banking that we know of today. He contributed to saving the life of millions.

 SUMMARY

The public should have their blood typed and their children so that in case of an accident or surgery they will know if another family member can donate the blood.  Blood is life and it is the essential element that keeps us living.