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Dr. Patricia Bath: A Brief Biography

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Dr. Patricia Bath is an ophthalmologist, inventor, teacher and laser scientist. She was born in Harlem, New York on November 4, 1942. Growing up Patricia had to deal with racism and poverty. When she was only 16 years old she was one of only a few students who was asked to participate in a workshop held by the National Science Foundation. The topic of the workshop was cancer research. Dr. Robert Bernard led this workshop and he was so impressed with Patricia’s work that he wrote about her research in a scientific paper. Patricia was extremely intelligent and graduated high school in only two years. Patricia remembers that as she was growing up she did not know of any female doctors or surgeons. Those professions were always held by men. …show more content…

This probe made cataract surgery less invasive and much less painful as in the past. It was so incredible that people who had been blind for more than thirty years were now able to see again. She became the first African American female doctor to receive a patent, this amazing achievement came in 1988. Dr. Patricia Bath retired in 1993, but continues to speak out on sight related issues today.

Carl Maxie Brashear was born January 19, 1931 in Toneyville, Kentucky. Growing up Carl did not have running water or electricity in his childhood home, despite this, Carl still remembers his childhood as being a very happy one. At the age of 17, Carl decided he wanted to join the Army, when he went to inquire about the Army, he would get his first taste of prejudice from the Army recruiter. He didn't give up, that same day he went and inquired about the Navy, passed the exam and joined the Navy in 1948. During his time in the Navy he was still faced with racism. Most African Americans were only allowed to work in the galley, doing the cooking, cleaning and serving meals. Carl became interesting in diving and would continually ask his commanding officer to let him use the diving …show more content…

Chris grew up in poverty. Never knowing his father, Chris was raised by his mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (Gardner) although at times he was placed in foster homes when poverty became too much for her. Chris joined the Navy after high school. When he was discharged from the Navy, he moved to San Francisco, California. He worked as a salesman, selling bone density screening kits. These kits were costly and not much more effective than regular x-ray machines. He had a hard time selling these machines, in 1981 as a new father to son Christopher Jr., he found it close to impossible to make ends meet. His son's mother decided to leave them because of the money issues and she moved to New York. Chris was not giving up his son, he had always said if he had a child, that child would know who his father was and Chris decided then, that he was raising Christopher no matter what. With bills rolling in and not enough money coming in Chris lost his place to live and went to live with his son in a motel. Chris met a man on the street who was driving a Ferrari. Chris was so inspired by this man. He went up to him and asked him what he does for a living, the man answered that he was a stockbroker. Chris decided he needed to get into this type of business. He applied for an intern job at Dean Witter Reynolds and worked super hard at it. But because he wasn't getting a salary, he then lost his motel

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