Louis T. Wright
1891-1952

Wright originated the intradermal method of vaccination against smallpox 1918. He devised a brace for neck fractures, a blade for the treatment of fractures of the knee joint, and a plate made of tantalum for the repair of recurrent hernias. He also became an authority on the venereal disease lymphogranuloma venereum, and was the first physician to experiment with the antibiotics Aureomycin and Terramycin. In 1948, Wright moved into the field of cancer research and studied the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Pioneer in clinical antibiotic research, Louis Tompkins Wright can be described as one of "the most productive, and most distinguished Black physicians to appear on the American scene." Born in LaGrange, Georgia, on July 23, Louis Wright was not the only physician in his family. His father, Dr. Ceah Wright graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1881.

After his father's death, his mother remarried four years later to Dr. Williams Fletcher Penn. He was the first Black to graduate from Yale Medical School in 1898. After graduating as valedictorian of his class at Clark University in Atlanta, Wright went on to Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Harvard fourth in his class.

Following duty with the Army during World War I, Dr. Wright became the first Black surgeon to be appointed to the White New York City Municipal Hospital (Harlem). From there he went on to become the Director of Surgery and later president of the Harlem Medical Board.During his long medical career, Dr. Wright was at the forefront in expanding medicine's horizons.He developed a method of operating on fractures around the knee joint; developed a neck brace for fractures of the spine; supervised and administered the first tests of a new drug, Auremycin on humans, and engaged in early cancer research.

He was also the first Black physician in America to head a public interracial hospital, and the second Black surgeon to be admitted to the American College of Surgeons in 1931 reference: http://www.lanthorn.com/022097/bhmonth.html

In 1940 - Surgeon Louis T. Wright is presented the Spingarn Medal for his "contribution to the healing of mankind and for his courageous, uncompromising position, often in the face of bitter attack." Among Wright's many accomplishments was being the first Black surgeon to be admitted to the staff of Harlem Hospital and chairmanship of the board of directors of the NAACP, a position he will hold for 17 years. Reference  http://www.blackfax98.com/jul/19.html

Dr. Louis T. Wright was born in 1891 at LaGrange, Georgia. He attended Clark University and then Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated in 1915. While serving in the Army Medical Corps during the First World War he introduced intradermal vaccination for smallpox. In 1919 he secured a position at Harlem Hospital, where in 1938 he became director of attending surgeons and director of the medical board. In 1948 he was hailed as the first clinician to investigate the treatment of humans with Aureomycin. At the same time, he served as chairman of the national board of directors of the N.A.A.C.P.

Until his death in 1952, Dr. Wright was a relentless opponent of racial prejudice, discrimination, and injustice. He stood solidly in favor of a responsive, fully integrated Harlem Hospital, which he considered to be the social obligation of the city of New York to provide. He stood equally firm in opposition to the social alternative of a privately funded, "charity" hospital which would obviate the need for the city to meet its obligations. He is especially remembered for his conviction that "what the Negro physician needs is equal opportunity for training and practice--no more, nor less." http://topaz.kenyon.edu/projects/neh/health/wright.htm