Sickle Cell Disease Pioneer Honored By Yale Medical School

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Yvette Fay Francis-McBarnette, a resident of Alexandria, VA, was honored for her life's work at a reception at Yale School of Medicine on June 2nd.  Dr. Francis-McBarnette, who is one of the early pioneers in Sickle Cell Disease research, dedicated a life time of work in improving and extending the lives of Sickle Cell victims at several hospitals and institutions around the country.  

As well as honoring Dr. Francis-McBarnette, who was the 2nd African American female to graduate from the Yale School of Medicine, this reception also honored Dr. Beatrix Ann McCleary Hamburg and Dr. Doris Louis Wethers, the first and the third African American female graduates.  

After graduating from Yale in 1950 and becoming the first African American medical intern at Michael Reese Hospital, Dr. Francis-McBarnette began her practice in pediatrics at Bellevue Hospital in New York.  She quickly began developing an expertise in Sickle Cell Disease, an expertise which she began to share with many hospitals.  In 1966 she started a comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease program at Jamaica Hospital in New York City and by 1970 was recognized as being one of the foremost experts in the field.  As the subject of many radio and television shows and as the recipient of many awards, she was able to use her notoriety to lobby for more assistance and funding for Sickle Cell Disease victims.  

She was a director and founder of the Sickle Cell Center for Research, appointed as a medical consultant for New York State, and was selected by the United States Senate to serve on a congressional commission.

Before enrolling in Yale's School of Medicine when she was 19, Dr. Francis-McBarnette graduated from Hunter College when she was 18 and earned a masters in chemistry from Columbia University.    

55 years ago, Dr. Francis-McBarnette married husband, Olvin R. McBarnette.  They have 6 children, all of whom have earned professional degrees.  One of their children, Bruce Olvin McBarnette is President of the real estate investment firm Summit Connection LLC and was a legal counsel for the United States Senate, a senior counsel for Fannie Mae, and a captain and attorney for the United States Army.  

SOURCE Summit Connection LLC