From the
President
Wayne Tuckson, MD
GLMS President | [email protected]
A NEW Day
I
t is an honor to be installed as the new
president of the Greater Louisville Med-
ical Society. I believe that my being pres-
ident is s pecial, but not because of any
particular achievements or notoriety
on my part. Rather, this honor represents
a recognition and validation of the contri-
butions of the African-American physicians
of Jefferson County to maintain the health
and wellness of our community.
As a transplanted resident of Jefferson
County and Kentucky, I have gained a great
appreciation and concern for the well-being
of our community. I hope that my past ac-
tions have and future behavior will continue
to reflect the level of my concerns, and that
together we tackle those problems which
face all members of our community.
However, like most other people, I have
a special place in my heart for those with
whom I share a common ancestry and ex-
perience. I am concerned by the continued
inequities in health status throughout our
community. One need only look at the 2017
Louisville Metro Health Equity Report to
see how far we have come and the work
that we still must do.
That said, I am most disparaged when I
hear remarks that either deny or belittle the
contributions of African-Americans in our
community. It especially bothers me when I
hear comments that we, African-Americans,
are not doing enough for ourselves. Well,
contrary to how some would want us to
believe, the African-American community
has always done much not only for itself,
but also for the community in general. This
event celebrates those efforts.
On February 19, 1866, a meeting took
place to discuss funding to build a hospital
for “accommodating the sick and helpless
Negroes” of Louisville. At this meeting,
there were African-American businessmen,
pastors and a representative of the Freed-
men’s Bureau. Unfortunately, the project
was not completed. That is, not completed
then. The land on which that hospital was
to have been built was at the corner of 17th
and Broadway, the same place where the
YMCA is building a facility and Passport
Health Plan will relocate its headquarters.
This single move will serve as an anchor
that will significantly improve health care
services in an underserved area. It is to be
applauded for its immediate impact and
the dividends that it will pay in the future.
R.B. Scott, founded the Red Cross Hospital
(RCH) at 6th and Walnut Streets. In 1905,
it was moved to 1436 Shelby Street, and for
its 77-year life served as a beacon of pride
and a place where African-American pa-
tients were treated, nurses trained, and Af-
rican-American physicians could practice.
The success of the RCH depended upon
not only the skills and wits of its’ adminis-
trators, physicians, nurses, countless vol-
unteers and other staff members, but also
the philanthropy of community members
such as Ms. J.B. Speed. In the late 1940’s
and early 1950’s, the RCH began to suffer
as a consequence of rising costs, declining
revenues, and a decrease in patient load as
previously segregated white-only hospitals
began to admit African-American patients.
Thanks to the scholarship of one of
our own, Dr. Morris Weiss, we are now fa-
miliar with Dr. William H. Fitzbutler. Dr.
Fitzbutler was the first African-American
physician to practice in Kentucky. At a time
when there were few opportunities for Afri-
can-Americans to be trained as physicians,
he started the Louisville National Medical
College. To improve care beyond that which
could be rendered in the home, he found-
ed the Citizens Auxiliary Hospital in 1895.
Sadly, little remains of the contributions of
Dr. Fitzbutler, though I’m certain that his
spirit inspired others. Though the RCH closed its doors in
1976, the spirit of the institution lives on.
The building has been repurposed for use
by the Volunteers of America who contin-
ue to bring hope and opportunity to the
disadvantaged in keeping with the intent
of its founders. The RCH continues in the
hundreds of former patients, workers and
members of the RCH family. Thanks to an
effort lead by Representative Cheri Bryant
Hamilton, Linda Hart Lewis and Brunhilda
Williams Curington, on April 10, 2018, a
marker was dedicated on the grounds at
the former RCH site which will ensure that
this institution and what it meant will not
ever be forgotten.
In 1899, three African-American physi-
cians, W.T. Merchant, Ellis D. Whedbee and Even though some African-American
patients were being admitted to white hos-
JUNE 2018
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