1928 – Halle Tanner Dillon Becomes First Black Woman Licensed to Practice Medicine in Alabama

On May 28, 1928, Dr. Halle Tanner Dillon became the first African American woman licensed to practice medicine in Alabama. Born into the prominent Tanner family of Philadelphia, Dillon graduated from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1891. Her groundbreaking medical exam in Alabama spanned 10 days and included intense scrutiny by the state medical board. Passing it with distinction, she shattered racial and gender barriers in the Deep South. Dillon went on to teach at Tuskegee Institute and serve as its resident physician. May 28 stands as a milestone in Black medical history and women’s professional advancement. Dillon’s achievement blazed a trail for future generations of Black female doctors, challenging the belief that race or gender determined competence. Her legacy reflects the intersection of excellence, courage, and service within Black health care history.