Charles Drew Biography free essay sample

Charles Richard Drew was born on June 3, 1904 in Washington D. C. He was born to a middle- class family. His father, Richard Drew was a carpet layer, and his mother Nora Burrell was a grade school teacher. Drew’s family lived in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood in D. C. , after relocating from Pompano Beach, Florida, where he attended elementary and junior high. As a child Drew was showed to be quite athletic. He won a variety of medals for swimming, and later even more in other sports such as: football, basketball, and other sports. After graduating from his local high school, Dunbar High, he was awarded the James E.  Walker Memorial. Now with his full scholarship, Drew attended Amherst College in Massachusetts. While there Drew went on to lead the track team as the captain and to the nationals, become the MVP of the baseball team, as well as, the star quarterback in which he went all-American. He also was a national high hurdles champion. Along with his athletics, Drew was also an academic scholar. Not only did he make honor roll every year while attending Amherst, but he was also admitted into Omega Psi Phi, a Greek organization which promoted high grades, scholarships, and athletics. After graduating from Amherst in 1926 with his Bachelor’s degree, Drew was unable to go back to medical school because of financial issues. As he tried ways to gain the money he became a teacher and coach at Morgan University. After two years of working there, he had enough money to put himself through medical school. But, due to America’s strict rules against African Americans going to medical school, Drew was denied access. In 1928, Drew applied and was enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. While attending McGill, students, scholars, and professors quickly noticed the work ethic and dedication of Drew. After proving himself to be a top student with nonstop hard work, and easily winning a prize in neuroanatomy, Drew was the first African American inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha, a national medical honor society. Later that year, Drew began experimentation with blood transfusions and blood storage. After five years of studying and research Drew graduated from McGill, second in his class in 1933. Along with the latter, Drew earned both Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery degrees. After finishing up with school, he did an internship and residency at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Drew continued to research blood  transfusions, and after about three months came into contact with John Beattie. After working together for some months, they analyzed the problems for completing a blood transfusion and issues with storing blood. After a couple of more months they came to the conclusion that blood could not me stored but plasma could. But, before they could work on it further tragedy struck. Drew’s father, Richard Drew Had pad passed. After the death of his father, Drew returned to the United States. He worked at Howard University and later that year filed for his surgery residency at Freedman’s Hospital in his hometown, Washington D.  C. After marrying and settling down, Drew again went back to graduate school. He received the Rockefeller Fellowship award to Columbia University and was educated at the Presbyterian Hospital. While studying he met John Scudder. Together they made a way to sustain blood plasma. He found out that plasma could be stored longer than regular blood. He also found out that just by adding water to the plasma, that they could make blood whenever they needed it. This was important, especially during the time such as World War II. His research in â€Å"Banked Blood† is what he submitted for his doctrines. In addition to his thesis expanded knowledge of plasma storage, Drew was named the â€Å"Father of Blood Banks. † Also, during WWI Drew was asked to head the â€Å"Blood for Britain† organization after their stored blood quickly dwindled due to spoiling and use. He modernized this by teaching the doctors how to change blood into plasma. He also was the lead helping cause due to him constantly overseeing shipments of lifesaving equipment to the wounded during the war. After, finishing his work with Britain he soon worked on another program; this one would come to be known as Red Cross. This, would not last long though. It seems as though as soon he started the project he forfeited it. It was widely due to the fact that the military demanded segregated blood. After months of countless of arguing and complaining about segregation laws, Drew called a press meeting where he resigned. There he stated, â€Å"I refuse to run a corrupt, racist, and un-American organization. † After resigning from American Red Cross in 1941, Drew started back teaching at Howard University. Not long after he was the first African-American to be admitted into the American Board of Surgeons. He got a job at Freedman’s Hospital and was one of the developers of Howard’s surgery program. In 1943, Drew was also given the Spingarn Medal, which was a life time achievement award. After a decade of accomplishments and higher level jobs Drew died in a car accident in 1950, on April 1. Being that Charles Drew is from my hometown, he means more to me than just some historical figure. He is a prime example of someone who actually made something out of his life from where I was born. His mere historical significance should be enough for anyone who ever said they cannot do something to reconsider. Another thing being we both are athletes but came to college for academics. He showed that when you call yourself a student-athlete, student comes first. Lastly, being that I want to help people, he showed anything is possible. He not only helped people throughout his lifetime, during WWI and the civil rights movements, but people of today too. His actions are still relevant and saving thousands of people every day. Without his work in blood storage and plasma millions of people would not have survived WWII and a lot people would not be alive today. Charles Drew is a hero. In conclusion, Charles Drew revolutionary man and worthy of praise.