Medicine- North Carolina, Alamance County, Dr. Charles Richard Drew Memorial Highway
(Note the following text is condensed from www.biography.com/people/charles-drew-9279094. "In 1938, Charles Drew developed a method for processing and preserving blood plasma. Plasma lasts much longer than whole blood, making it possible to be stored or "banked." His research served as the basis of his doctorate thesis, "Banked Blood," and he received his doctorate degree in 1940. Drew became the first African-American to earn this degree from Columbia.
As World War II raged in Europe, Drew was asked to head up a special medical effort known as "Blood for Britain." He organized the collection and processing of blood plasma from several New York hospitals, and the shipments of these life-saving materials overseas to treat causalities in the war. According to one report, Drew helped collect roughly 14,500 pints of plasma.
In 1941, Drew worked on another blood bank effort, this time for the American Red Cross. He worked on developing a blood bank to be used for U.S. military personnel. But not long into his tenure there, Drew became frustrated with the military's request for segregating the blood donated by African Americans. At first, the military did not want to use blood from African Americans, but they later said it could only be used for African-American soldiers. Drew was outraged by this racist policy, and resigned his post after only a few months."
On April 1, 1950, Charles Richard Drew was fatally injured in a car accident. The highway on which the accident occurred is a memorial to Dr. Charles Richard Drew.
Medicine- North Carolina, Alamance County, Dr. Charles Richard Drew Memorial Highway
(Note the following text is condensed from www.biography.com/people/charles-drew-9279094. "In 1938, Charles Drew developed a method for processing and preserving blood plasma. Plasma lasts much longer than whole blood, making it possible to be stored or "banked." His research served as the basis of his doctorate thesis, "Banked Blood," and he received his doctorate degree in 1940. Drew became the first African-American to earn this degree from Columbia.
As World War II raged in Europe, Drew was asked to head up a special medical effort known as "Blood for Britain." He organized the collection and processing of blood plasma from several New York hospitals, and the shipments of these life-saving materials overseas to treat causalities in the war. According to one report, Drew helped collect roughly 14,500 pints of plasma.
In 1941, Drew worked on another blood bank effort, this time for the American Red Cross. He worked on developing a blood bank to be used for U.S. military personnel. But not long into his tenure there, Drew became frustrated with the military's request for segregating the blood donated by African Americans. At first, the military did not want to use blood from African Americans, but they later said it could only be used for African-American soldiers. Drew was outraged by this racist policy, and resigned his post after only a few months."
On April 1, 1950, Charles Richard Drew was fatally injured in a car accident. The highway on which the accident occurred is a memorial to Dr. Charles Richard Drew.