Black men in veterinary science--research question. Heelp!

[Nay]

I have racked my brain trying to remember where I read an article about a certain black man, sometime in 1940-50 maybe, who was a vet tech and was an AMAZING vet surgeon, but could not practice because he was black and no vet school would ever admit him. A white veterinarian befriended him and they worked together. I think I also remember the vet tech as having invented a mechanical device of some kind that advanced veterinary medicine, but he was never given the credit for it.

Does someone out there remember this article, or can you just tell me this man's name?

[morningglory]

1. I saw a tv show about this amazing man. I believe he worked at Johns Hop-

kins, or some big important medical school as a lab assistant. I am going to start googling and get back to you.

[dsc]

2. This sounds like the guy in Something the Lord Hath Made

though he actually pioneered open heart surgery. You may be talking about someone else.

[morningglory]

3. I googled "black surgeon" + "lab assistant" and got this, but couldnt open

.. Alec Guinness plays an unassuming lab assistant who invents a miracle fiber ... This is the first video biography on the Black surgeon who was the first ...
www.slu.edu/its/ets/mediacollection/alpha.txt - Similar pages

I believe he worked as a lab assistant to an important white surgeon, and he was in the operating room, the white doc would not do surgery without him in the room to guide him. Don't know if this alec Guinness part is about him.

[China_cat]

6. That was 'The Man in the White Suit'

Not even close to what's being looked for

[Wwagsthedog]

4. Our dog's vet is a black lady. Very good too. nt

[MADem]

5. Two separate lives, here--fascinating bios

This guy started the first Black vet program at Tuskeegee: http://www.patterson-uncf.org/bio/fdp_bio.pdf I always thought his life would make a great movie.

Then there was this guy, who did open heart surgery in 1893 (not a vet, though) : http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/danielwilliams.html Another film that would write itself.

[HeeBGBz]

7. Are you talking about a veteran or a veterinarian? n/t

[mcscajun]

8. I think you mean this man...but it wasn't veterinary medicine

Surgical technician and heart surgery pioneer Vivien Thomas; he did invent at least one groundbreaking surgical tool.
http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/vthomas.htm

Also see: Something the Lord Made

Edit: the preliminary research into this groundbreaking surgery was done on dogs.

[theHandpuppet]

9. I think you might find this article of interest

Not the man you seek, but a facinating article nonetheless.

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/schoolresources/communications/publications/bellwether/58/lushington.html

[Nay]

10. Thank you, everyone. I am sure that Vivien Thomas is the guy I

am thinking of. I remember the research on dogs and thought it might have involved veterinary medicine instead of human medicine.

I knew someone would have the answer! Thanks, everybody.