In light of the recent announcement about naming the four Violet Societies, the Student Diversity Initiative wants to ensure that distinguished alumni physician-scientists from groups otherwise underrepresented at NYUSoM are included in the societies! Specifically, we want to be sure at least one society is represented by non-white and non-male alumni.

We've curated a list of diverse, accomplished alumni in the attached document, and want to point out two in particular who we hope you will submit a vote for:

Dr. May Edward Chinn was the first African-American woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College and the first African-American woman to intern at Harlem Hospital. In her private practice, she provided care for patients who would not otherwise receive treatment. She was a strong advocate of early cancer screening.

Dr. Randolph Chase Jr. was one of the first tenured black members of the New York University medical school faculty and an infectious disease expert whose research shed light on organ transplant rejections. Dr. Chase was appointed an assistant professor of medicine at N.Y.U. in 1964 and became director of the school’s clinical microbiology laboratory soon after. In the 1970s, he concentrated on teaching and clinical work, meanwhile representing N.Y.U.’s medical school in the university’s administrative senate.