02/05/2026
Black History Month: Honoring Leaders Who Defined Public Health
This Black History Month, we recognize and celebrate three African American pioneers whose leadership, research, and advocacy helped shape public health and advance health equity for generations. Their work continues to influence how we promote prevention, protect communities, and improve health for all.
-Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, advanced national conversations on prevention, mental health, and to***co use by framing public health as a shared social and moral responsibility.
-W.E.B. Du Bois pioneered the use of data and social research to demonstrate how racism and social conditions shape health outcomes, laying the foundation for modern public health and health equity.
-Dr. Ruth Ella Moore broke barriers as the first African American woman to earn a PhD in a natural science and strengthened public health through groundbreaking research on tuberculosis and infectious disease prevention.
Their impact continues to guide public health and inspire the ongoing pursuit of health equity in every community.