Dr. William Augustus Hinton
Throughout the month of February, we’ll be celebrating Black History Month by highlighting Black people who have changed the course of history through their pioneering work in the medical field. These brave men and women found ways to circumvent cultural and socioeconomic oppression to bring the world lifesaving and healthcare contributions. Today, we’re celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. William Augustus Hinton.
Dr. Hinton was the first African American physician to publish a textbook – Syphilis and Its Treatment, 1936. He is known internationally for developing a flocculation method for detecting syphilis called the “Hinton Test.” Dr. Hinton is also the first African American to hold a professorship at Harvard University. He attended the University of Kansas from 1900-1902 and then transferred to Harvard, graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1912. From 1921-1946, he taught bacteriology and immunology at Harvard before being promoted to clinical professor in 1949.