Dr Charles Drew
Dr Charles Drew was an American surgeon and medical researcher who pioneered methods for long-term storage of blood plasma and organized America's first large-scale blood bank.
Doctor
June 3, 1904
May 31, 1987
82
Dr. Charles Richard Drew (June 3, 1904 â April 1, 1950) was a renowned American surgeon and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the field of blood transfusions. He devised innovative techniques for preserving blood and utilized his expertise to establish extensive blood banks during World War II. Drew’s most notable work involved pioneering the concept of blood banks and uncovering the potential for separating and storing plasma for transfusions. He also made history as the first African American to receive a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Columbia University and served as the inaugural director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Tragically, Drew passed away at 45 in a car accident en route to a medical conference. His enduring legacy continues to influence the medical field today. A fascinating aspect of Dr. Charles Drew’s life is his development of methods for extended blood plasma storage and his organization of the first large-scale blood bank in America.
