Charles Harry Epps, Jr. (born July 24, 1930) is an American orthopaedic surgeon who served as Dean of the Howard University College of Medicine.

Charles Harry Epps, Jr.
Born (1930-07-24) July 24, 1930 (age 94)
Alma materHoward University
SpouseRoselyn P. Epps
Scientific career
InstitutionsHoward University College of Medicine

Early life and education

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Epps was born in Baltimore and grew up in Pimlico.[1] At the age of six he first noticed how unequal his society was, with the separate white school being better equipped than his own.[1] By the age of fifteen, Epps lost his father to a heart attack.[2] He attended Frederick Douglass High School, where he graduated as valedictorian.[1] He was appointed to the Maryland State Boys' State Senate, where he successfully called for the elimination of segregated public transport.[1] He was encouraged by his high school biology teacher to study chemistry at Howard University. He earned his medial degree from Howard University, graduating magna cum laude.[1] In an interview with The Washington Post, Epps said that as a Black medical student in the 1940s he could only study at Howard University or the Meharry Medical College.[3] Throughout his medical degree he drove a taxicab.[3] He specialised in orthopaedic surgery at Freedmen's Hospital, and was only the fifth African-American in history to become an orthopaedic surgeon.[4][5]

Research and career

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After his residency, Epps joined the Medical Corps where he was made a Captain.[1] He was honourably discharged in 1962, and returned to Washington, D.C. to start his own medical practise.[1] Epps was elected President of the American Orthopaedic Association in 1986, and was the first African-American person to hold such a position.[6] In 1988 Epps was made Dean of the Howard University College of Medicine.[5] His leadership resulted in a significant increase in endowment funding as well as several new research chairs.[5]

In 1994 Epps was made chief executive officer of the Howard University Hospital.[5] He was awarded the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Humanitarian Award in 2000, and the Marymount University Ethics Award in 2003.[7][8] Epps retired from Howard University College of Medicine in 2001.[5] In 2008 Howard University College of Medicine established the Charles H. Epps, Jr. Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery.[5]

Personal life

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Epps was married to Roselyn P. Epps, the first African-American President of the American Medical Women's Association[9] and the first African-American and first female president of the District of Columbia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.[10] Roselyn passed away in December 2014.[11]

Selected publications

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  • Epps, C. H. Jr; Bryant, D. D. 3rd; Coles, M. J.; Castro, O. (1991). "Osteomyelitis in patients who have sickle-cell disease. Diagnosis and management". JBJS. 73 (9): 1281–1294. doi:10.2106/00004623-199173090-00002. ISSN 0021-9355.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Epps, C H; Tooms, R E; Edholm, C D; Kruger, L M; Bryant, D D (1991-07-01). "Failure of centralization of the fibula for congenital longitudinal deficiency of the tibia". The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 73 (6): 858–867. doi:10.2106/00004623-199173060-00008. ISSN 0021-9355. PMID 2071619.
  • Epps, C H; Schneider, P L (1989). "Treatment of hemimelias of the lower extremity. Long-term results". The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 71 (2): 273–277. doi:10.2106/00004623-198971020-00015. ISSN 0021-9355. PMID 2918012.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Dr. Charles H. Epps, Jr.'s Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  2. ^ "Dr. Charles Epps, Part I | Orthopedics This Week". ryortho.com. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  3. ^ a b Colburn, Don (1986-04-16). "CHARLES H. EPPS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  4. ^ "Dr. Charles Epps, Part I | Orthopedics This Week". ryortho.com. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Thompson, Terry L.; Epps, Charles H. (2008-03-01). "Terry L. Thompson, MD". Journal of the National Medical Association. 100 (3): 345–346. doi:10.1016/S0027-9684(15)31250-5. ISSN 0027-9684.
  6. ^ "Past Presidents". www.aoassn.org. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  7. ^ "Dr. Charles Epps, Part I | Orthopedics This Week". ryortho.com. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  8. ^ "The Marymount University Ethics Award Honorees". Marymount University. Archived from the original on 2015-01-07.
  9. ^ "AMWA". American Medical Women's Association. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  10. ^ "Dr. Roselyn Payne Epps's Biography".
  11. ^ "Dr. Epps, advocate for underserved, advanced women's health initiatives". AAP News. 35 (12): 33. 2014-12-01. doi:10.1542/aapnews.20143512-33 (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN 1073-0397.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)