In this special Black History Month episode, we honor the legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew, a pioneer in modern blood banking and transfusion medicine. Dr. Keisha Davis is joined by Dr. Sharon Smith, Dr. Atoosa Kourosh, and special guest Sylvia Drew Ivie, JD, civil rights attorney and daughter of Dr. Charles Drew.

The discussion covers Dr. Drew’s groundbreaking contributions to medicine, the challenges he faced in a segregated medical system, and the impact of his work on medical education and healthcare today. Sylvia Drew Ivie shares personal insights into her father’s legacy, her own work in civil rights and healthcare, and the continued importance of advocacy in medicine.

This episode also includes the latest hot topics in healthcare, including updates on avian influenza (H5N1) detected in dairy cattle, a gastrointestinal outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and seasonal flu statistics from the CDC.

Meet the Doctors & Guest

• Dr. Keisha Davis, M.D. – Pathologist, Fitness Trainer, and Public Health Advocate https://drkeishadavis.komi.io/

• Dr. Sharon Smith, M.D. – Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Aesthetic Medicine Specialist https://sharonsmithmd.com/

• Dr. Atoosa Kourosh, M.D., MPH – Pediatrician, Allergist, and Integrative Medicine Expert https://www.doctoratoosa.com/

• Sylvia Drew Ivie, JD – Civil Rights Attorney and Special Assistant for Community Affairs at Charles R. Drew University https://www.cdrewu.edu/

Resources from the Episode Dr. Charles R. Drew’s Legacy

• Biography of Dr. Charles Drew – American Chemical Society https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/african-americans-in-sciences/charles-richard-drew.html

• Dr. Charles Drew’s Profile – Biography.com https://www.biography.com/scientists/charles-drew

Sylvia Drew Ivie’s Contributions & Civil Rights Work

• Charles R. Drew University Profile https://www.cdrewu.edu/directory/drew-ivie-jd-sylvia/

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund Oral History Project https://ldfrecollection.org/ldf-oral-history-project/sylvia-drew-ivie-oral-history-interview/

Healthcare Hot Topics from the Episode

• Avian Influenza (H5N1) Found in Dairy Cattle – USDA Report https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/02/15/usda-detects-avian-influenza-dairy-cattle

• Gastrointestinal Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Cruise – CDC Investigation https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

• Current Influenza Activity & CDC Updates https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

Support & Further Learning

• Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science https://www.cdrewu.edu/

• National Health Law Program https://healthlaw.org/

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund https://www.naacpldf.org/

Looking Ahead

In the next episode, we will discuss how recent governmental changes—including policy freezes—are affecting healthcare and what this means for public health moving forward. Stay tuned!