Dr. Patricia Bath

Dorktales Podcast: Episode 65

Hidden Heroes of History

Dr. Patricia Bath

A story that will open your eyes to scientific imagination! Dr. Patricia Bath was an ophthalmologist, inventor, and humanitarian who was dedicated to bettering the lives of others. She began in her teens by making an important discovery about the relationship between cancer, nutrition, and stress. Eye health became her priority as a doctor and she made sure care was accessible for those in underserved communities. Dr. Bath’s life was filled with achievements, including becoming the first Black female doctor to receive a patent. Her invention, a laser device to treat a common eye condition, restored the sight of many who had been blind for more than 30 years!

Did You Know?

Dr. Patricia Bath was an ophthalmologist, inventor, and humanitarian.

Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who perform medical and surgical treatments for eye conditions.

Patricia Bath was born in 1942 in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. Her father was Rupert Bath, the first Black motorman for the New York City subway system and her mother was a domestic worker. Both of her parents inspired her love of academics.

Her father, who also occasionally wrote for a newspaper, taught Dr. Bath about travel and the importance of exploring new cultures. Her mother bought her a chemistry set – sparking her interest in science.

At age 16, Dr. Bath applied for and was awarded a scholarship at the National Science Foundation, an organization that supports scientific research and education. She began a project with a university and the Harlem Hospital Center where she studied the connection between cancer, nutrition, and stress. This led her to some important discoveries about the nature of cancer – including a mathematical equation that could be used to predict cancer cell growth.

The head of the program recognized how significant her findings were and published them in a scientific paper. Her research also earned her a feature on the front page of the New York Times. At age 18, she won a Merit Award in Mademoiselle magazine for her contribution to the project.

Dr. Bath graduated from high school after two years and attended universities to study chemistry and medicine. She graduated from Howard University with honors in 1968 and eventually started her career in ophthalmology.

She began an internship back in her home at Harlem Hospital, and the following year, started a fellowship in ophthalmology at Columbia University. During this time, she discovered that individuals from under-resourced communities were twice as likely to suffer from blindness than her other patients. They were also eight times more likely to develop glaucoma, a type of eye disease.

She learned that many cases of eye disease were preventable. So, she created the community ophthalmology system to promote eye health in a more accessible way. The community ophthalmology system increased the amount of eye care given to people who were previously unable to afford treatment.

In 1981, she began the process of creating the Laserphaco Probe for which she received a patent in 1988. The device created a less painful and more precise treatment of cataracts using laser technology. With the invention, Dr. Bath helped restore the sight of individuals who had been blind for more than 30 years!

Dr. Bath was a humanitarian too. She was involved in many efforts that went towards bettering the lives of others. For example, when she was in school, she co-founded the Student National Medical Association. It is now the largest independent, student-run organization that focuses on the needs and concerns of Black medical students in the United States.

Throughout her schooling and career, Dr. Bath achieved many firsts:

• The first woman to lead a post-graduate training program in ophthalmology.

• The first African American person to serve as a resident in ophthalmology at New York University.

• The first African American woman to serve on staff as a surgeon at the UCLA Medical Center.

• The first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose.

Among many other outstanding achievements!