The National Library of Medicine will host two special exhibitions to celebrate African American History month—one is about a UTMB legend (see note below for local activities). The Dr. Herman Barnett, III Memorial Exhibit honors a physician, leader, and trailblazer. Herman A. Barnett, III, M.D. was a World War II fighter pilot and member of the Tuskegee airmen. After his discharge, Barnett became the first black graduate from a Texas medical school. He was a surgeon and anesthesiologist in Houston and continued to be a man of “firsts.” Barnett was the first African American member of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, and the first African American elected president of the Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees. Dr. Barnett graduated from UTMB in 1953.
The exhibit was put together by a team led by UTMB’s Dr. Patrice Yarbrough; it was unveiled at the Moody Medical Library. In November, while on display at the DeBakey High School for Health Professions, the Barnett Exhibit was seen by a representative of the National Library. A replica of the Barnett Exhibit was purchased to permit national/regional showings and still enable the display to tour Galveston and Houston area schools, as was orginally intended. The Barnett exhibit opened in Bethesda Feb. 4.