11 Facts About Velma Scantlebury

Dr Velma Scantlebury GCM Velma Scantlebury-White was born on 6 October 1955 and is a Barbadian-born American transplant surgeon.

Velma Scantlebury was the first Black woman transplant surgeon in the United States.

Velma Scantlebury has received many honors in her career, having been named to both the "Best Doctors in America" and "Top Doctors in America" lists multiple times.

Velma Scantlebury has performed over 2,000 transplants and published many peer-reviewed papers.

Velma Patricia Scantlebury was born on 6 October 1955 in Goodland, St Michael Parish, Barbados, to Kathleen and Delacey Whitstanley Scantlebury.

Velma Scantlebury attended three years at Alleyne School in St Andrew Parish, before her family moved to New York City in 1969.

In 1986, Velma Scantlebury began her fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, under the direction of Dr Thomas Starzl and spent the next two years in clinical work.

Between 1988 and 2002, Velma Scantlebury worked as a transplant surgeon at the Pitt School of Medicine, earning her Doctor of Surgery in 1989, as the first African-American woman transplant surgeon.

Velma Scantlebury worked her way up to associate professor by 2002 and was recruited by the University of South Alabama as a surgical professor and as director of the USA's Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Centre.

Velma Scantlebury was rewarded for her work by the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association and received the Order of Barbados Gold Crown of Merit.

Velma Scantlebury accepted an offer from the Christiana Care Health System of Delaware in 2008 to serve as director of their kidney transplant program and the family relocated.