Did you know?
Dr. Patricia Bath was the first woman African American doctor to receive a patent - a government license securing the right to an invention for a certain period of time - for a medical invention.
Dr. Patricia E. Bath
From an early age, Patricia Bath was taught by her father, Rupert Bath, about the wonders of traveling and different cultures. Her mother, Gladys Bath, provoked her interest in science by buying her a chemistry kit. She began leaving her impression on the medical field, at the age of 31, by becoming the first African American to accomplish a residency in ophthalmology. Bath continued her career in ophthalmology by moving to California to become an assistant professor of surgery at Charles R. Drew University and the University of California. To ensure that "eyesight is a basic human right," Dr. Patricia Bath helped found the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. Bath's overall greatest achievement; however, was revolutionizing cataract surgery by inventing the Laserphaco Probe, which made cataract surgery more precise and less painful. To reward Bath for her accomplishments, she was inducted into the International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame in 2001.
"Do not let your mind be imprisoned by majority thinking. Remember that the limits of science are not the limits of imagination." - Dr. Patricia Bath
In 1974, Dr. Patricia Bath became the first woman ophthalmologist to be appointed to the faculty of the University of California. At the University of California, she worked as an assistant professor of surgery. An assistant professor of surgery teaches the aspects of surgery to the students. The assistant can also be involved in developing new medical procedures and techniques. This allowed Dr. Bath to interact with other ophthalmologists and eventually develop the Laserphaco.
Quiz
When she first began working at the University of California, what was Dr. Patricia Bath given that was not equivalent to her male colleges?
- She was not given the same equipment needed to do research.
- She was not given the office space that she was qualified for.
- She was not given the same amount of patients.
- She was not given as long of a break time.
In 1977 Dr. Patricia Bath and three other colleagues founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. The institute was founded to prevent blindness through programs that protect, preserve, and restore eyesight. In the United States, more than one million people suffer from blindness or impaired vision. The poor and homeless suffer from these conditions the most, but the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness provides help to prevent blindness or preserve their eyesight.
The American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness is founded on the idea that eyesight is a basic human right and that eye care should be a part of basic health care.
In 1983, Dr. Patricia Bath became the first woman chairperson of an ophthalmology residency training program at Drew University of California, Los Angeles. As a chairperson, Dr. Patricia Bath trained people and prepared them for a career in ophthalmology. No other woman in the entire country held a position as highly ranked, in a college and in a medical training program, as hers.
Did you know?
The University of California and Drew University are among the highest ranked schools in the United States for ophthalmology.
In 1986, Dr. Patricia Bath discovered and invented a new device and technique for cataract surgery. This medical device is called the Laserphaco. It revolutionized cataract surgery by making it quicker, easier, and safer. Cataracts are cloudy patches over the eye that prevent a person from seeing or impair their eyesight. Before the Laserphaco, a manual removal of the cataract took place by scraping it off. The machine increases the accuracy of the surgery and reduces the pain felt by the patient after the procedure.
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits of the Laserphaco device?
- The Laserphaco made cataract surgery quicker, easier, and safer.
- The Laserphaco replaced the manual removal of cataracts.
- The Laserphaco reduced the pain felt by the patient after the surgery.
- The Laserphaco was able to detect and cure all forms of blindness.
In 2001, Dr. Patricia Bath was inducted into the International Women in the Medicine Hall of Fame. She was inducted because of all the achievements in her life. She was the first woman to accomplish her goals, which at the time seemed impossible. She was also appreciated by being elected into the Hunter College Hall of Fame and was named Howard University Pioneer in Academic Medicine.
Did you know?
After retiring from the University of California Medical Center, Dr. Patricia Bath became the first woman to be elected into the Center's honorary staff. Even though she is retired she still directs the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness and dedicates time to preventing, treating, and curing blindness.
Quiz
Which achievements helped Dr. Patricia Bath be inducted into the International Women in the Medicine Hall of Fame?
- She donated a large amount of money to the Hall of Fame and colleges.
- She was the first woman ophthalmologist to be appointed to the faculty at the University of California.
- She helped found the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.
- She invented a new device for cataract surgery called the Laserphaco.
If Dr. Patricia Bath had invented the Laserphaco a few decades earlier, would her colleges take credit for her invention or maybe reject it completely? Also if she had not invented this devise would we still use the old technique even though technology has advanced so greatly?
Dr. Patricia Bath is still relevant today and has left a great impression in history. Her invention, the Laserphaco, is currently being used for cataract surgeries and is still effective. She has also created the Institute for the Prevention of Blindness to continue researching the prevention of blindness. She will continue to be an inspiration for people, especially women, because she achieved so many milestones and became the first woman to do this.