May Edward Chinn

May Edward Chinn 1917

American physician and medical researcher

May Edward Chinn

Name	May Edward Chinn
Birth name
Birth date	April 15, 1896
Birth place	Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death date	December 1, 1980
Death place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation	Physician, medical researcher
Years active
Organization
Known for	First African-American woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

May Edward Chinn (April 15, 1896 – December 1, 1980) was an American physician and medical researcher. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College and the first African-American woman to intern at Harlem Hospital.

Early life and education

May Edward Chinn was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, to parents who were formerly enslaved. She moved to New York City with her family, where she attended Columbia University's Teachers College, earning a degree in music. However, her interest in medicine led her to pursue further education at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where she graduated in 1926.

Medical career

After graduating, Chinn faced significant racial and gender discrimination but persevered to become the first African-American woman to intern at Harlem Hospital. She later established a private practice in Harlem, where she provided medical care to underserved communities.

Chinn was known for her dedication to early cancer detection and was one of the first physicians to use the Pap smear test for cervical cancer screening. She also conducted research at the Strang Clinic and worked closely with prominent cancer researchers.

Legacy

May Edward Chinn's contributions to medicine, particularly in the field of cancer detection, have had a lasting impact. She broke significant racial and gender barriers in the medical field, paving the way for future generations of African-American women in medicine.

See also

• African-American women in medicine
• History of medicine in the United States
• Harlem Hospital
• Bellevue Hospital Medical College