- Leonidas Berry
Leonidas Harris Berry,
M.D. , (20 July 1902 , Woodsdale,North Carolina ,United States —4 December 1995 ,Chicago ) was an internationally recognized authority and pioneer ingastroscopy andendoscopy . [http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9604/9604BOBDeaths.html University of Chicago] ] In 1965-66 Berry served as the president of theNational Medical Association .After he graduated from
Wilberforce University in 1924, Berry moved to Chicago where he received a second B.S. degree from theUniversity of Chicago , followed by a M.D. degree from theRush Medical College of the University. In 1933, he also received a M.S. degree inPathology from theUniversity of Illinois Medical School .After receiving his medical degree, Berry worked briefly at the
Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C., and then atCook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois where he specialized in gastroenterology and retired in 1975 as chief of endoscopy and senior attending physician. Berry has lived in Chicago since his return in 1931, working at theMichael Reese Hospital , Provident Hospital, and the University of Illinois Medical School.In addition to his long and distinguished medical career, Berry has been active in teaching, writing, and community public service. The latter has included work in civil rights, on the racial problems of public health, and with the
African Methodist Episcopal Church . He was also the author of a genealogical history of his family "I Wouldn't Take Nothin' For My Journey: Two Centuries of an Afro-American Minister's Family" published in 1982.In the early 1950s Berry started during his presidency of Cook County Hospital’s Physician Association the "Berry Plan", a citywide movement which provided medical counseling clinics for the prevention and follow-up care of young drug users. It was implemented and operated by the
Illinois State Department of Health. [http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1118681323540.html Rush University Medical Center] ]Berry's papers, which were given by him to the
National Library of Medicine in 1986, center on Berry's active professional and civic life. While the earliest copies of family material date from the 1890s, the bulk of the collection dates from the 1950s. Included are correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, publications, and lectures.Awards
*"Rudolph Schindler Award" 1977 from the
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [ [http://www.askasge.org/pages/about/awards/aw_rudolf.cfm Rudolf Schindler Award Recipients] ]
*"Distinguished Service Award" from theNational Medical Association
*"First Annual Clinical Achievement Award" from theAmerican College of Gastroenterology
*"Freedom Award for Public Service" from the Chicago Chapter of theNAACP
*"Distinguished Alumni Award" ofRush Medical College External links
*National Library of Medicine: [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/manuscripts/ead/berry.html "Finding Aid to the Leonidas H. Berry Papers, 1907-1982"]
* [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-17968680.html Obituary]References
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