William Augustus Hinton

William Augustus Hinton (December 15, 1883 – August 8, 1959) was an American bacteriologist, pathologist and educator. He is best known for developing the Hinton test, a diagnostic test for syphilis.

Early life and education

Hinton was born in Chicago, Illinois, to former slaves. He completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University in 1905. He then attended Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 1912.

Career

After graduating from medical school, Hinton worked at Massachusetts General Hospital as a volunteer in the pathology laboratory. In 1915, he joined the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where he developed the Hinton test for syphilis. This test was more accurate and less dangerous than previous methods.

In 1921, Hinton became the first black professor at Harvard Medical School. He taught preventive medicine and hygiene. He also wrote a textbook, Syphilis and Its Treatment, which was published in 1936.

Legacy

Hinton's work in the field of syphilis testing has had a lasting impact on the medical community. His test is still used today in some parts of the world. In 1958, a year before his death, Hinton was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for his contributions to the medical field.

See also

• List of African-American inventors and scientists
• History of syphilis

External links

• National Library of Medicine - Dr. William Augustus Hinton
• BlackPast.org - William Augustus Hinton