Barbara Ross-Lee
Barbara Ross-Lee (born June 1, 1942) is a physician and the first African-American woman to become a medical school dean.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Ross-Lee was born and raised in the housing projects of Detroit with her sister, singer Diana Ross, and attended Wayne State University for her undergraduate education. Discouraged from majoring in human anatomy and pursuing medicine, Ross-Lee earned degrees in biology and chemistry in 1965. She then joined the National Teacher Corps, where she stayed until 1969. A single mother, she attended the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating with her D.O. in 1973.[1][4][2][3]
Career
After graduating medical school, Ross-Lee remained in Detroit as a family practitioner. She took a position with the United States Department of Health and Human Services where she worked on medical education and people of color in medicine. She was the first osteopathic physician to receive the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship. In 1993, she was appointed the dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University, a position she held until 2001. During her tenure, she was known for innovating the curriculum. After leaving Heritage, she became the vice president of Health Sciences and Medical Affairs at the New York Institute of Technology; in 2002, she became dean of its New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.[1][4][2][3]
Honors and awards
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame (1998)
- Fellow, American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians
- Member, Trilateral International Medical Workforce Group
- Member, NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health
- Member, DHHS Advisory Committee on Rural Health
- Distinguished Public Service Award, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Honorary Doctorate of Science, New York Institute of Technology
References
- 1 2 3 "Changing the Face of Medicine | Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- 1 2 3 Ch, D. L.; ler. "Little Known Black History Fact: Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee". Black America Web. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- 1 2 3 "Ross–Lee, Barbara". Contemporary Black Biography. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- 1 2 Fischler, Marcelle S. (2002-02-10). "LONG ISLAND JOURNAL; Diana Ross's Sister Tops Charts in Medicine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-07.