Who was Vivien Thomas? He was a Black, American laboratory supervisor who never had much more than a high school diploma, yet remains one of the most significant pioneers of cardiac surgery to date. Follow this thread to learn more. #BlackHistoryMonth https://buff.ly/3n5YX1f 

In 1930, he began working as a laboratory assistant & he quickly mastered various surgical techniques and research methodology. By the mid-1930s, Thomas was conducting the work of a postdoctoral researcher despite being paid the equivalent of a janitor. #BlackHistoryMonth

After accepting a job offer in 1941, he began working on a surgical solution to the complex congenital heart defect, blue baby syndrome (now known as cyanotic heart disease) #BlackHistoryMonth

Thomas developed a procedure to treat blue baby syndrome. The surgical techniques he developed has helped save the lives of countless children with congenital heart defects. #BlackHistoryMonth

Without any education past high school, Thomas rose above poverty & racism to become a cardiac surgery pioneer and a teacher of operative techniques to many of the country’s most prominent surgeons. #BlackHistoryMonth

On #BlackHistoryMonth , we want to say the names of black people who have made INCREDIBLE contributions to #physiology. Know a black scientist or physiologist who has done this? Please share their name and story below! #BlackHistoryMonth