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In honor of Black History Month, Corcept celebrates the trailblazing legacy of renowned surgeon, oncologist, medical educator and patient advocate, Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. (May 22, 1930 – May 25, 2019). Dr. Leffall served as the first Black president of several major medical organizations and dedicated his life to the study and surgical treatment of cancer and its impact on Black communities.
Early Career
Dr. Leffall was born and raised in then-segregated Florida, where he was strongly influenced by his parents who encouraged his academic pursuits and emphasized the importance of education. Taking this to heart, he attended Florida A&M University and Howard University College of Medicine, graduating at the top of his class. He was accepted as the third-ever Black surgical oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. After joining the U.S. Army Medical Corps and serving as chief of general surgery at the Army hospital in Munich, he returned to teach at Howard University’s medical school, where he spent the rest of his academic career while serving in numerous national leadership roles.
Health Equity Advocate
In 1978, when he began his ground-breaking tenure as president of the American Cancer Society, Dr. Leffall launched a campaign to promote prevention and early diagnosis of uterine cancer in Black women and lung, stomach, pancreatic and esophageal cancer among Black men. He did so because these cancers were found in higher rates in Black communities due, in part, to increased exposure to industrial carcinogens and inadequate access to healthcare and screening. He launched a program focused on improving oncological detection and mortality rates among Black individuals, making Dr. Leffall one of the country’s foremost early health equity advocates. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Leffall chairman of the President’s Cancer Panel, an influential advisory position he held for nearly a decade.
Legendary Medical Educator
After joining Howard College of Medicine as assistant professor of surgery in 1962, Dr. Leffall rose to become chair of the Department of Surgery in 1970, holding that position for more than a quarter century. He dedicated his career in academia to championing improved health for members of the Black community through greater focus of cancer detection and treatment in underserved populations. At Howard, Dr. Leffall taught 6,000 future physicians and mentored more than 250 surgical residents. He continued to perform surgeries until the week before he turned 76, after which he continued to teach.
Throughout his career, Dr. Leffall spoke at more than 200 medical colleges, and contributed to more than 100 books and articles, both as an original and joint author. His motto was: “Education is the great equalizer.”
We are proud to honor Dr. Leffall Jr.’s contributions to the oncology space, as well as the Black community. His legacy lives on through his meaningful work and teachings that highlight the importance of representation and equitable healthcare.
Sources:
NIH National Library of Medicine, Biography Lasalle D. Leffall, Jr.: Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Academic Surgeons
New York Times: LaSalle Leffall Jr., 89, Dies; Cancer Society’s First Black Leader
The Lancelet obituary, LaSalle D Leffall Jr – The Lancet