Richard Marfuggi, MD, DMH--"In Search of Mary Seacole"

You would be forgiven if you had never heard of Mary Seacole, as she was overshadowed by her contemporary, Florence Nightingale.  A recent scholarly work—In Search of Mary Seacole: The Making of a Black Cultural Icon and Humanitarian—written by Helen Rappaport, redresses the failings of some medical historians to recognize the accomplishments of this iconic individual.

This presentation will shed light on some of her major achievements, from early life in Jamaica to the Crimean War, followed by her final productive years, in London.  A self-educated black woman, Seacole overcame innumerable obstacles as she pursued a practice in medicine.  Her perseverance, failures, and successes are nothing short of inspirational.

Dr. Marfuggi is Past-President of the Medical History Society of New Jersey, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and was the first physician to gain a Doctorate in Medical Humanities, from Drew University.  He is an author, medical historian, and medical ethicist.  He served as Medical Director of the WBB Research Institute, a public policy research center, a Commissioner of the American Medical Association Foundation, and a Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association.