Scott, Roland B.(1909–2002) - Physician, medical researcher, Chronology
Physician, medical researcher
Roland Boyd Scott, a major researcher into the causes and treatment of sickle cell anemia, devoted his life to advocacy for victims of this disease. An allergist by training, Scott became an advocate for children with sickle cell disease after seeing many children with symptoms of the disease admitted to the Howard University Hospital. Scott started the Center for Sickle Cell Disease in 1972 funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Among the first black physicians accepted into the American Pediatric Society, he was internationally known as an expert on sickle cell anemia.
Roland Scott was born in Houston, Texas on April 18, 1909. He graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri in 1927. He chose to study at predominately black Howard University. His mother felt that even though he was also accepted at the University of Chicago, Howard would provide a more comfortable social environment. In 1935, he married Sarah Rosetta Weaver. They had three children: a son, Roland Scott Jr., and two daughters, Venice and Irene.
At Howard, Scott studied chemistry through his junior year then applied to medical school and was accepted. Alonzo DeGrate Smith, professor of pediatrics in the medical school, influenced Scott’s decision to focus on diseases of children. Smith’s earliest research was in nutritional diseases, including a study of the use of vitamin D to treat rickets. Scott completed his study of medicine at Howard in 1934.
Scott completed an internship in Kansas City, Missouri, and then decided to focus on a residency in pediatrics, though at the time there was very little interest in specializing in pediatrics. Scott spent four years as a pediatric resident and fellow in Chicago. He served as resident at Provident Hospital, Cook County Hospital, and the Municipal Hospital for Contagious Diseases.
While at the University of Chicago, Scott was interested in the work of Katsuji Kato, a pediatric hematologist from Japan, who published detailed drawings of normal and abnormal blood cells and bone marrow cells. After the Pearl Harbor bombing by Japan, Kato was considered an undesirable alien and forced into relocation. He later returned to Japan.
Chronology
1909
Born in Houston, Texas on April 18
1934
Graduates from Howard University Medical School
1935
Marries Sarah Rosetta Weaver
1936
Completes pediatric residency
1939
Passes examination of American Board of Pediatrics; returns to Howard
1945
Becomes acting director of pediatrics
1948
Produces first sickle cell article
1949
Becomes chairman of pediatrics
1969
Sarah Scott dies
1971
Lobbies Congress and gains passage of the Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act
1972
Starts the Center for Sickle Cell Disease
1990
Retires as director of the center
1995
Ebony names Scott “preeminent authority” on sickle cell
2002
Dies in Washington, D.C. on December 10
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