Up close and personal – The Dr. Kevin Williams story

From a young age, Dr. Kevin Williams looked to his father as a role model. Back in 1952, his father became the third African American physician in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, despite barriers and discrimination faced by Black professionals in the medical field.   “It was a different time,” says Kevin. “When my father first opened his practice, none of the hospitals would give him admitting privileges.”  At his office, Kevin ’s father saw patients on a first come, first served basis. Patients in the area were so eager to see him that they started lining up at 4 o’clock each morning, even creating their own sign-up list. By the time he arrived at the office at 8am, there would already be 70 to 80 patients waiting.   Everything Kevin ’s father did was focused on his patients. He was selfless and dedicated to the people he served—right down to the smallest details. For example, when Kevin asked him why he didn’t redecorate his office (he had folding metal chairs in the waiting room), he said he wanted to make the space more comfortable for patients who came from the poor black neighborhoods in the city. He knew they wouldn’t feel at ease a fancy office.  By the early 1960s, his father was finally able to admit patients to the hospital. From that point on, he spent his mornings seeing patients at his office, then left to conduct hospital rounds in the afternoon. Kevin remembers that his father would come home briefly for dinner after spending all day at wo...
Source: EyeForPharma - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news