H. Jack Geiger

American physician and civil rights activist

H. Jack Geiger at UCI

Herman Jack Geiger (November 11, 1925 – December 28, 2020) was an American physician and civil rights activist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of social medicine and for establishing community health centers in the United States. Geiger's efforts were instrumental in addressing health disparities and promoting health equity, particularly in underserved communities.

Early Life and Education

H. Jack Geiger was born in New York City, New York. He grew up in a family that valued education and social justice, which influenced his later career choices. Geiger attended City College of New York before serving in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he pursued medical studies at the University of Rochester and later at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree.

Career

Social Medicine and Civil Rights

Geiger was deeply influenced by the principles of social medicine, which emphasize the social determinants of health and the role of society in shaping health outcomes. He was a founding member of the Physicians for Social Responsibility and was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Geiger's commitment to social justice led him to work alongside civil rights leaders to address health inequities.

Community Health Centers

In the 1960s, Geiger co-founded the first community health centers in the United States, located in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and Boston, Massachusetts. These centers were modeled after similar programs in South Africa and aimed to provide comprehensive health care services to underserved populations. The success of these centers demonstrated the effectiveness of community-based health care and led to the establishment of a national network of community health centers.

Legacy

Geiger's work had a lasting impact on public health policy and the delivery of health care services in the United States. His advocacy for health as a human right and his efforts to integrate social and medical care have influenced generations of health care professionals and policymakers. Geiger's legacy is reflected in the continued operation and expansion of community health centers across the country.

Related Pages

• Social medicine
• Community health center
• Civil Rights Movement
• Physicians for Social Responsibility