Born: June 28, 1922 (Jackson, Mississippi)
Died: July 14, 2018 (Southfield, Michigan)
Biography:
Natalia Tanner (June 28, 1922 – July 14, 2018) was an American physician who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and fought against health inequality in the United States. As the first female African-American fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she paved the way for women and people of color in the medical profession.
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Natalia Tanner moved to Chicago with her family. Her father, Joseph Rush Tanner, was a physician, and her mother, Doris Murphy Tanner, dedicated her time to caring for the family. Tanner completed her high school education at Englewood High School in 1939. She then pursued a premedical program at the University of Chicago after spending the first two years of her undergraduate studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Driven by her passion for medicine, Tanner graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville in 1946. Notably, she was a member of the first sorority at Meharry, Delta Sigma Theta, and served as treasurer. After completing her medical studies, she interned at Harlem Hospital in New York City for a year before returning to the University of Chicago for her residency in pediatrics. During her residency, Tanner made history as the institution’s first African-American resident. She also trained at Meharry’s Hubbard Hospital before completing her postgraduate education in 1950.
Following her postgraduate education, Tanner briefly returned to Chicago before marrying Dr. Waldo Cain and relocating to Detroit, Michigan in 1951. In Detroit, she became the city’s first African-American board-certified pediatrician. Although she had already been accepted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics while still in Illinois, she faced discrimination from the Detroit Pediatric Society and the Michigan chapter of the AAP. Despite these challenges, Tanner persisted and became the first African-American physician at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, which was still segregated at the time. During her time there, she worked tirelessly to foster collaboration between the Society for Adolescent Medicine, the National Committee on Adolescence for the AAP, and the pediatric section of the National Medical Association.
Tanner’s dedication to her patients and her commitment to fighting health inequality remained unwavering throughout her career. She served on the staff of Children’s Hospital of Michigan for over 50 years, leaving a lasting impact on generations of patients and medical professionals. In 1968, Tanner became a professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine while continuing to practice medicine. Her dedication and expertise led to her appointment as a full professor in 1992. Additionally, in 1983, she became the first woman and first African-American president of the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Throughout her illustrious career, Tanner advocated for greater participation by people of color and women in medicine. She also focused her efforts on working with underserved populations and collaborating with the NAACP. Her groundbreaking achievements and tireless advocacy were recognized and honored by her peers. Tanner received numerous awards and honors, including being named a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1951 and serving on the executive board of the Society for Adolescent Medicine in 1969. She also held the esteemed position of Pediatrics Chair for the National Medical Association in 1969. In 2001, the Society for Adolescent Medicine awarded her the Outstanding Achievement Award in Adolescent Medicine.
Natalia Tanner passed away on July 14, 2018, in Southfield, Michigan. Her legacy as a trailblazing physician and advocate for health equality continues to inspire future generations in the medical profession.
Awards:
– Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics (1951)
– Executive Board, Society for Adolescent Medicine (1969)
– Pediatrics Chair, National Medical Association (1969)
– Outstanding Achievement Award in Adolescent Medicine, Society for Adolescent Medicine (2001)