Short clip that gives kudos to the one & only Dr. Patrica E. Bath. Without her help, there wouldn't be the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, the Laserphaco Probe, and the many humanitarian works she has been involved with. Her contributions to the medical field has impacted so many people around the world.
Dr. Patricia E. Bath
Dr. Patricia Era Bath is an African American ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic scholar. Bath was also the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent for inventing the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment in 1986 which was less painful and precise. She has broken gender borders by being the first African American women to complete a residency in ophthalmology. In the past year, 3.6 million people have treated their cataracts thanks to Bath's incredible contribution to the medical field.
“Do not allow your mind to be imprisoned by majority thinking. Remember that the limits of science are not the limits of imagination”- Dr. Patricia E. Bath
Did you know?
For a better understanding of Dr. Bath's milestones, one has to know exactly what is a cataract. It is medical condition in which cloudy spots form on the lenses of the eyes as people age; however, some may get it at a young age. Cataracts cause blurry vision and may lead to blindness if not treated right away. Dr. Patricia E. Bath's innovation help treat cataracts in a more efficient manner.
Milestone #1
In 1968, Bath realized that in Harlem Hospital's Eye Clinic they did not perform any surgeries and this was a shock for her. She was the reason for bringing ophthalmic surgical services to the hospital by persuading her professors at Columbia to operate on blind patients for free. She then volunteered as an assistant surgeon. As a result of her efforts, Bath performed her first major eye operation at Harlem Hospital in 1970.
Did you know?
According to Bath, her biggest obstacle was the sexism and relative poverty that she faced when she was growing up as a young girl. There was no women physicians, and men were the only ones performing surgery at the time. Besides sexist issues, her family was extremely poor which eventually led her own mother scrub floors so that Bath could afford to go to medical school.
Milestone#2
In 1974, Dr. Patricia Bath was the first woman ophthalmologist to be appointed to the faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine Jules Stein Eye Institute. She notes that when she became integrated into the department, she was offered an office. However, she refused it due to the inequality that came with the spot. Bath strongly believes in equality for all. This foreshadows her contribution later on in 1976 with creating the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.
Did you know?
Bath grew up in Harlem, New York where prejudice was prominent; therefore, she couldn't go to medical school there due to tensions. She then moved to Los Angeles, California where she was also treated with injustice. Her office was located "in the basement next to the lab animals." Bath argued that it was not sexism that threw her off, but that "it was inappropriate and [it] succeeded in getting acceptable office space." She stated this after she refused the office space. Bath claimed that she "was just going to do [her] work." With her perseverance, she accomplished many things throughout her life.
Milestone#3
What Dr. Patricia E. Bath considers to be her greatest accomplishment
Betöltés...
Quiz
What does Bath consider to be her greatest accomplishment according to the audio?
- the Laserphaco Probe
- being able to cure someone's blindness
- receiving the many awards she has gotten over the years
In 1976, Bath co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, which established that "eyesight is a basic human right."This organization was founded in 1977 by Dr. Patricia E. Bath and three of her other colleagues. Their goal is to eradicate blindness by 2020. They hope to insure all children have all visual needs met, including eyeglasses; assist blind children to achieve their best by special educational resources; and establish the World Eye Institute for the research and treatment of blinding eye diseases, with clinic facilities open to the blind of all nations on an equal basis.
