Last Updated: 13 Aug, 2023 | Views: 285
Age: 91
Profession: Doctor
Other Profession(s): Paediatrician
Famous For: American pediatrician, public health administrator, and former Surgeon General of the United States
Higher Education: Philander Smith College (BS) University of Arkansas, Little Rock (MD, MS)
About (Profile/Biography):
Joycelyn Elders was an American physician and public health official who served as the 15th Surgeon General of the United States. She was born on August 13, 1933, in Schaal, Arkansas, and died on September 14, 2021.
Joycelyn Elders Early Life and Education
Joycelyn Elders was born in a poor family of sharecroppers in Schaal, Arkansas. Despite the challenges, Elders was a hardworking and gifted student. Elders attended Philander Smith College where she earned a degree in biology.
Joycelyn Elders Career in Medicine
After college, Elders joined the United States Army, where she trained as a physical therapist. She earned her medical degree in 1960. Joycelyn was the first African-American woman to graduate from the school.
Elders went on to work as a pediatrician and educator, advocating for better health care for children and underserved populations.
She was known for her progressive views on sexual health education, and she often clashed with conservative lawmakers who opposed her positions.
Joycelyn Elders Appointment as Surgeon General
In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Elders as Surgeon General of the United States. She was the first African-American to hold the position.
As Surgeon General, Elders continued to push for comprehensive sexual health education and other progressive health policies.
She was a controversial figure, and her outspoken views on controversial topics like drug legalization and masturbation education drew criticism from some conservatives.
Joycelyn Elders Controversial Statements and Resignation
In 1994, Elders made a controversial statement suggesting that masturbation could be a part of sex education. This statement drew widespread criticism and calls for her resignation from conservative groups and politicians.
Elders resigned from her position as Surgeon General in December 1994.
Joycelyn Elders Legacy
Joycelyn Elders was a groundbreaking figure in medicine and public health, and she remains an influential voice on issues of sexual health education and health care for underserved communities.
Despite the controversy surrounding her resignation, Elders' legacy continues to inspire generations of healthcare professionals and advocates.
