Dr. Charles Richard Drew (June 3, 1904–April 1, 1950)
Every two seconds, a blood transfusion is required in the United States, yet few know the incredible person behind the lifesaving uses of donated blood. Dr. Charles Richard Drew was one of the 20th century’s most important scientists. As a surgeon and pioneer in the preservation of life-saving blood plasma, he discovered the method for its long-term storage and organized America's first large-scale blood bank. Learn more about this African American medical legend below!
Fact – Dr. Drew was an “ambitious, popular, athletic, and sturdy” student.
According to his 1922 Dunbar High School yearbook entry, Dr. Drew was a leader although not immediately an academic. He served as president of his class and the school athletic association, as well as captain of the baseball team, but did not thrive in his studies until college. Dr. Drew received an athletic scholarship to Amherst College where he won numerous awards, then he attended McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, receiving his MD and CM in 1933. He later earned a Doctorate in Medical Science from Columbia University—the first African American to do so!
Fact – He invented blood banks.
At the time of his doctoral research in 1938, there was no way to separate blood components, and whole blood only had a shelf life of one week. In 1939, he developed novel methods of separating plasma from erythrocytes and dramatically increased the shelf life of plasma to two months. Dr. Drews’s doctoral thesis was named Banked Blood: A Study in Blood Preservation and soon proved to be vital amid the pressing war concerns.
Fact – Dr. Drew invented bloodmobiles.
During the start of World War II, the need for blood and plasma for British soldiers and citizens was desperate! Dr. Drew oversaw the Blood for Britain program, innovating to create what we call bloodmobiles–trucks that contained refrigerators of stored blood—which allowed for easier transportation as well as community donations.
Fact – He oversaw over 15,000 blood donations!
Dr. Drew’s Blood for Britain program ran for five months, garnering a total collection from 15,000 donors and over 5,500 vials of blood plasma. That’s a lot of blood!
Fact – Dr. Drew was Assistant Director of the First American Red Cross Blood Bank in 1941.
The American Red Cross, and thus Dr. Drew, was responsible for securing blood for the U.S. Army and Navy. When the armed forces demanded that blood be segregated by race, he resigned from his position.
Fact – He aspired to be an electrical engineer.
According to his 1922 Dunbar High School yearbook entry, “Charlie” said he was “To be an Electrical Engineer.” Alongside his picture, it also states, “You can do anything you think you can.” We agree!
If you’re interested in work similar to that of Dr. Charles Richard Drew, consider jump-starting your medical career this summer at the National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine or National Youth Leadership Forum: Advanced Medicine & Health Care.
Portrait of Charles R. Drew, painted by Betsy Graves Reyneau, National Archives and Records Administration