Former Morgan Professor Dr. Charles Drew Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame

In recognition of his contribution to the field of medicine and his advancement of medical equipment, former Morgan State professor Charles Drew, M.D. was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame during its 43rd Annual Ceremony, held this May in Washington, D.C. (http://invent.org/43rd-annual-induction). The National Inventors Hall of Fame recognizes monumental individuals whose innovations are crucial to our lives. Each inductee’s invention has had a revolutionary impact on the world, as well as an influence on the continued progression of knowledge within a specific area.

Dr. Drew, who died in 1950, served from 1926–1928 as a professor of chemistry and biology at Morgan (then Morgan State College). During that same period, Dr. Drew also pulled dual duty as coach of the men’s basketball and football teams. As coach, he successfully led the men’s basketball team to an undefeated season in 1927. Dr. Drew had excelled in athletics as an undergraduate at Amherst College and was an All-American in football.

After a successful teaching and coaching stint at Morgan, Dr. Drew followed his passion and later entered the field of medicine, where he went on to have an illustrious career as a physician and surgeon. However, it was his prolific research and work in the area of blood storage, along with his patent on the creation of the surgical needle (Patent No. 2,389,355), that earned this honor as a new member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s 2015 historical class.

Today, Dr. Drew’s commitment to research on blood and blood transfusions is still saving lives. Morgan is proud to highlight its former professor’s example, and to continue carrying on a tradition of excellence as a top research university, inspiring the Charles Drews of the future.