Early efforts of blacks in the fight against heart disease and stroke

This article highlighted the early efforts of some individuals whose vision and dedication helped to set the stage for later progress in the fight against heart disease, who forged links to those who eagerly took up the cause of creating an appropriate place for minority participation in the specialty of cardiovascular diseases, and to contribute to efforts to establish programs for the reduction of morbidity and mortality and for prevention in African Americans. This is only one view of what was an exciting period of fitful progress and controversy. Dr Wilson reviewed the still deplorable state of affairs in regard to minorities and the medical profession in 1986, stating: A meaningful role for minorities will not exist until there is access to academic postgraduate training programs that will lead to faculty positions and research opportunities for minorities to serve as role models for future students. The Association of Academic Minority Physicians was established to foster greater progress in this regard across disciplines. Again, while much has been accomplished, including Donald Wilson's becoming the first African-American dean of a nonminority medical school, much remains to be done as we approach the end of the 20th century.