Barrier Breakers

Hairston was the first head nurse and director of Slater Hospital, which opened in 1902.

Hall was the first Black physician to practice in Winston-Salem. He was responsible for organizing the Black medical community and planning for the city's first Black hospital.

Hall constructed the Hall Building in 1913, which housed Hooper's Grocery Store, Strong's Cafe, the Howard-Robinson Funeral Home, the Colored Union Association and apartments.

Hall and his son, Leroy Hall, practiced medicine together in the Bruce Building in the 1930s.

• Malloy, who had just completed medical school at Howard University, came to Kate Bitting Reynolds hospital — or "Katie B." as so many doctors and patients at the time referred to it.
• The first African American in the South with a practice limited to the specialty of surgery. He’s noted for performing more surgeries than any other physician in Forsyth County.

Malloy was one of the first Black surgeons to teach at what was then Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

Walker was the first African American practicing surgeon in North Carolina to be named a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1951, and he was the first Black physician named to the courtesy staff of the old City Hospital.

• Walker was one of the first two Black physicians to be admitted to the North Carolina Medical Society as a scientific member.
• Passed away at age 64, ending his esteemed run as president of the Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital professional staff.

Gordon arrived in Winston-Salem to fill the position of Director of Radiology at the Kate Bitting Reynolds Hospital. At the time of his arrival, due to laws concerning segregation, there were very few places a Black board certified physician could work. The only options that were available all the time were positions in Black hospitals or a federal position. Gordon chose the Kate Bidding Hospital because it was one of the strongest Black hospitals in the country.

Gordon held an unofficial professional relationship with the radiology department of Bowman Gray, which fostered a gradual integration of the medical school. This was odd at the time, because it was protected against by law.

The next step towards integration. During this time the formal medical societies, which served a large amount of the Bowman Gray Faculty, were segregated. Gordon Was one of the first two Black physicians to be admitted to the North Carolina Medical Society as a scientific member — a special classification for Blacks that enabled them to join. This classification allowed the member to hold any office, even the president, but restricted the member from attending any social event.

Gordon joined the clinical staff as an assistant professor, becoming Bowman Gray's first full-time Black faculty member.

Gordon continued his efforts to integrate the white and Black medical professional and patients in Winston-Salem by proposing that Bowman Gray residents in radiology rotate through Reynolds Hospital, which still cared for predominately Black cliental. This original proposal was refused.

• Gordon's proposal for Bowman Gray residents in radiology rotate through Reynolds Hospital was approved.
• Became assistant professor of radiology at Wake Forest University’s Bowman Gray Medical School, a position he held until his retirement in 1988.

• During the Korean War, Gordon served in the medical corps, and upon returning to civilian life, he served as chief of the Department of Radiology at Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital, where he developed the School of Radiologic Technology.
• Nov. 10, 1970. Gordon was also an active civic leader, becoming the first African American to be elected as a trustee of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in 1970. The Foundation later created a scholarship program for Wake Forest minority undergraduates in his honor.

Gordon was promoted to associate professor of radiology.

Gordon was requested by the Administration at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine to initiate programmatic activities for prospective minority students and those who were enrolled in the medical school. By spring of 1975, this support grew to an organized office, the Office of Minority Affairs, and Gordon was the part-time director.

Gordon resigned as Director of the Office of Minority Affairs.

The Gordon-Watts Scholarship was established in 2005, in memory of Gordon and in honor of Velma Watts, MD to help achieve and sustain the diversity of the student body.

Fisher was the first Black OR/scrub nurse at Wake Forest Baptist. 

Kennedy was the first Black resident. He later become the first Black chief of pediatrics at Forsyth Hospital. For half of his more than 40-year career, he was the city’s only Black pediatrician. Kennedy sold his practice to Wake Forest Baptist.

Over the years Kennedy built his practice, bringing more health care professionals into East Winston. He also served as local chairman of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), hosting annually The Kennedy Evening of Elegance. The event raised $2 million in 10 years. He eventually sold his practice to Wake Forest Baptist and retired in 2009. 

• Allen opened his office for the practice of general surgery in the Bruce Building at 6th Street and Patterson Avenue in Winston-Salem, joining his father, Hobart T. Allen, who also had a medical office in the building.
• He was an attending surgeon at Kate B. Reynolds Memorial Hospital and Forsyth Memorial Hospital, and later, also at Reynolds Hospital.

From 1968 to 1970, Allen was chief of surgery at Reynolds Hospital, and in this capacity, was appointed clinical instructor of surgery at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. 

Dr. Allen served as clinical assistant professor of surgery at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. 

Allen received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Winston-Salem Chronicle in recognition of his dedication to his patients and his service to his profession and his community. 

Allen received a certificate of recognition from Forsyth Medical Center in honor of 40 years of service to the medical community of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County as a physician and general surgeon.

After 45 years of practice in Winston-Salem, Allen closed his medical office on June 15, 2010.

Allen passed away at Kate N. Reynolds Hospice Home.

Little joined Wake Forest Baptist as RN, Operating Room.

Little was assistant head nurse ENT, and was elected to serve as secretary for NC Central Association of OR Nurses.

Little was named the “NCBH Nursing Management” for excellence award recipient.

Little was honored for 30 years of service.

Abbott joined Wake Forest Baptist as an OR nurse.

Abbott was named coordinating supervisor of the OR.

• After receiving her BSN from Gardner-Webb College, Abbott was promoted from clinical manager to acting director of the OR.
• Honored as the June 1989 employee on the month.

Abbott was one of seven Wake Forest Baptist nurses statewide named to "The Great 100," a program that recognizes excellence in nursing.

Abbott was honored for 30 years of service.

Dr. Grimes integrated Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC, where he became its first Black student and earned his MD degree in 1972.

Grimes served as secretary, vice-president and president of both the student government and a chapter of the Student American Medical Association.

Grimes receives a scholarship from Robert L. Tuttle, chair of microbiology and immunology from 1955-1963 and was dean of student affairs from 1964-1969.

Grimes was the first African-American student to graduate from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1972. He was president of the student government and of the student chapters of the American Medical Association and National Medical Association.

Grimes retired after 29 years of private practice. He lived in Bellevue, Washington with his wife, Anne.

The William T. Grimes, Jr., MD Scholarship was established in his memory to help achieve and sustain the diversity of the student body.

Andrews came to the North Carolina Baptist Hospital as Assistant Director for Staff Development and was promoted to Nursing Director. 

Andrews was named Director of Nursing Services. 

Andrews was named North Carolina Baptist Hospital's first Vice President of Nursing.

Parker joined the Bowman Gray faculty as an assistant professor in the anatomy department and became only the second full time Black professor that Bowman Gray had hired. 

Weaver was the first Black female graduate from Bowman Gray School of Medicine. She matched in Internal Medicine at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. that same year. 

Tate entered Bowman Gray School of Medicine's PA Program, which graduated its first class in 1971, looking to build on skills he had developed as a paramedic in the U.S Army. Tate went on to help found the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants, which he led as president, becoming the first Black person to do so.

Clark was Wake Forest Baptist nursing school's first Black CRNA graduate.

Johnson was the first Black pediatric social worker hired by Bowman Gray School of Medicine at the Amos Cottage Clinic.

Conrad was the first Black social worker at North Carolina Baptist Hospital.

Hardy was the first Black anesthesia resident at Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

Watts was named instructor of the newly formed “Committee on Women and Minorities” at Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

Watts was named director of the Office of Minority Affairs.

Watts directed the Health Careers Opportunity Program to help undergraduate students become better prepared for medical school.

Watts' proposal titled, "Medicine as a Career: An Awareness Program for Minority High School Students," won a $335,000, three-year grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation to prepare students for medical school at an early age.

Watts' program "The Problem Based Learning Initiative," was created through a $400,000, five-year grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The curriculum taught middle and high school teachers and students from area schools to tackle science and math projects from a new perspective.

Watts retires from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

The Gordon-Watts Scholarship was established in 2005, in memory of Joseph Grover Gordon, MD and in honor of Watts, to help achieve and sustain the diversity of the student body.

Hopkins served as a Wake Forest University Board of Trustees Member.

Hopkins received the Distinguished Alumni Award for his extraordinary service to Wake Forest University, the field of medicine and the Winston-Salem community.

Hopkins became the co-director of the newly created Women’s Health Center focused on improving prenatal care and reducing infant mortality rates. The Center dramatically raised the level of healthcare for African-American women in Winston-Salem. He also served on Today’s Women’s Wellness Center’s Health Advisory Council, the Women’s Health Center Advisory Board and was the president of the Twin City Medical Society.

Hopkins joined the School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an assistant professor.

Hopkins received the Wake Forest University's highest honor, the Medallion of Merit in recognition of decades of service to the University and the community.

Latham-Sadler graduated from Wake Forest (Bowman-Gray) School of Medicine.

Latham-Sadler was the first Black/African-American President of the Forsyth-Stokes-Davie County Medical Society.

Latham-Sadler was the First Black/African American President of the Wake Forest School of Medicine Medical Alumni Association.

McMichael joined Wake Forest Baptist's dermatology department. 

McMichael became the first Black woman chair of dermatology in the country and the first Black female chair of the dermatology department at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

The first doctorally prepared nurse and the first African-American director of nursing and operations at Brenner Children's Hospital. She spear-headed and/or co-led several important projects at Brenner Children's Hospital with lasting impact, including the conception of and move into Ardmore Tower. She also encouraged the educational advancement of Alisa Starbuck and Penny Blake early in their careers, among countless other nurses.

Bass was the first Black hospital Board of Directors member. He served three terms.

Clements was the first Black director of the Downtown Health Plaza and the Reynolds Health Center  - both under Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Myatt was the first Black vice president of human resources at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Runnels was the first Black Chaplain Supervisor in the Department of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Education at Wake Forest Baptist Health.

Locke was the first Black vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer over the integrated organizations, North Carolina Baptist Hospital and Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Locke became the first Black VP and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Linton was the first Black woman to be a flight nurse with Aircare at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Starnes was Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Burn Center's first Black assistant nurse manager.