On June 17, 1940, Dr. Charles R. Drew, an African American physician and blood transfusion pioneer, was appointed the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Drew’s groundbreaking work in blood preservation techniques laid the foundation for large-scale blood banking, which saved countless lives during World War II. Despite his leadership, the Red Cross initially upheld policies that segregated blood by race—a practice Drew strongly opposed and later resigned over. His appointment on this date represented a historic achievement for a Black physician in a segregated medical establishment. Drew would go on to inspire generations of Black medical professionals and remains a towering figure in global medical history.
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