History of the

Mineral District Medical Society

 

The Mineral District Medical Society, a branch of the National Medical Society, began officially in the year 1935.  It was given this name because of Jefferson County's location in an area rich in minerals.  The society, located in the Birmingham-Jefferson County area, began with a group of Black doctors whose common bond was the problem of being Black Physicians.  Members present at the first meeting were Dr.s S. F. Harris, McCall, Drake, Denby, H. C. Bryant, Walter Brown, A. M. Brown, Knoll and F. Bradford, Sr.

 

These Black doctors met on a monthly basis for the purpose of exchanging medical knowledge.  In the late 1940s, there were more than 20 Black physicians in Jefferson County.  By the 1960s, this number had dwindled to nine.  This was in part due to the racial climate in the area.

 

The Mineral District Medical Society became inactive between 1969 and 1977.  It was reactivated in December of 1978.  The society began to play the dual role of providing scientific information to its members and serving as a social awareness group to better define the role of Black physicians in Jefferson County.  One of its major issues has been to address the problem of hospital privileges for Black physicians in Birmingham.

 

The society continues today to serve its members and stands as a watchdog of social justice in health care for all people of Jefferson County.

Past Presidents

from 1979

 

1979 Sam Sullivan, M.D.

1981 Iaasc Ravizee, M.D.

1982 Rowell Ashford, M.D.

1984 Norman Walton, M.D.

1986 Patience Clayborne, M.D.

1987 Paul Amamoo, M.D.

1988 Robert Smith, M.D.

1989 James Lewis, M.D.

1990 Cedric Harris, M.D.

2009 Micheal Bivens, M.D.

2011 Corey Hartman, M.D.

2013 Eva Allen, M.D.

2015 Velda Pugh Kinsey, M.D.

2017 Chris Carter, M.D.

2019 Robert Agee, Jr., M.D.

2021 Rayna Dyck, M.D.

2023 Ludwig Francillon, M.D.