… Joanne Charles, who is posting on the Tuscan Families Facebook page about important African-Americans who helped to shape the history of the country.
“Halle Tanner Johnson was born in 1864 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Halle was the first African American woman licensed to practice medicine in the state of Alabama. Not only was she the first African American woman, but she was the first woman in Alabama to accomplish this goal. Halle received a position at Tuskegee Institute as the first resident physician. Halle began working at Tuskegee Institute because of Booker T. Washington who offered Halle the position. While working at Tuskegee, 1891-1894, she started a nurses’ training school and opened a dispensary, which is like our pharmacies today. Halle later married and moved to Nashville. Halle died on April 26, 1901, giving birth to her child. Halle is remembered as the first woman to be licensed to practice medicine in Alabama.
Side note: According to the CDC, “Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” Women’s health is very important, and as we approach the month of March, which is Women’s History Month, let’s try to continue the conversation.”
