02/05/2026
This Black History Month, we honor Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller (1872–1953), a pioneering psychiatrist whose early research shaped today’s understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. As the first African-American psychiatrist in the U.S., he spent his life pushing past barriers, advancing brain science, and advocating for better mental health care.
Trained under Alois Alzheimer in Germany, Dr. Fuller became a longtime faculty member at Boston University School of Medicine. His groundbreaking studies in the early 1900s helped define our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. He translated Alzheimer’s first case report into English, documented some of the earliest U.S. cases, and studied neurofibrils in dementia—laying the foundation for modern neuropathology. His publications, including “A Study Of The Neurofibrils In Dementia Paralytica, Dementia Senilis, Chronic Alcoholism, Cerebral Lues And Microcephalic Idiocy” (1907) and his 1912 case reviews, remain milestones in medical research.
His life reminds us that representation matters, and that dedication to science and care for others can spark lasting change. May his story inspire continued learning, compassion, and the celebration of Black innovators in every field.
