Dr. Patricia Davis: An Advocate for Black Women
In 1980, Patricia Davis visited a doctor with intense pain in her abdomen. Her doctor diagnosed her with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and sent her home. Davis knew this was not only an inaccurate diagnosis but a catch-all dismissal of black women who weren’t being heard. 24 hours after her pain began, her ruptured appendix was removed. It turned out she had been suffering from pancreatitis, pneumonitis, and peritonitis. She realized how close she had come to dying, and vowed to become a physician and to ensure that no voice went unheard like hers was. She went on to become an advocate for patients, a pioneer in neuro-ophthalmology, and a leader in the field of pediatric ophthalmology. We are immensely thankful for Dr. Davis and her contributions to medicine, and we are excited to honor her during Black History Month.