Black History Month: Living Legends

February is Black History Month, and we’re privileged to celebrate the fantastic achievements of Black healthcare professionals. This year, we wanted to honor the incredible contributions made by these living legends. Be sure to follow us on social media to share their stories. 

Beverly Malone’s impressive list of prominent positions includes president of the American Nurses Association, the first African American general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, deputy assistant secretary for health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CEO of the National League of Nursing. She’s impacted all aspects of her field — in policy, education, administration and clinical practice — and continues to advocate for equal access to safe, quality and culturally competent care to diverse patient populations.

Eddie Bernice Johnson is a pioneer for Black women as a nurse, politician and entrepreneur, becoming the first female African American chief psychiatric nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas, the first African American and woman to chair the House Committee of Science, Space, and Technology and the first registered nurse elected to the U.S. Congress. Her passion for nursing led her to introduce the National Nurse Act of 2011, emphasizing the pivotal role nurses play in public health and disease prevention. She sits on countless committees and continues to advocate for women, children and human rights.

Mae C. Jemison’s long list of accomplishments includes being NASA’s first woman of color astronaut, a medical doctor, author, actress and philanthropist. She’s been inducted into several Halls of Fame, received numerous awards and serves on the board of directors for many organizations. She’s paving the way for young Black women in STEM and continues to support educational efforts by encouraging curiosity and scientific experimentation. Currently, she’s leading the 100 Year Starship project to ensure the possibility of human space travel to another star within the next 100 years.