Dr Leonidas Berry and Gastroenterology
By
John C Abercrombie
Dr. Leonidas Berry: inventor and pioneer in endoscopy and gastroscopy with a long medical career was born July 20, 1902, in Wooddale, North Carolina. His parents were an African Methodist Episcopal minister and a schoolteacher.
Berry earned 2 bachelor of science degrees, one from Wilberforce University in 1925, and one from the University of Chicago in 1925. In 1929 he earned a medical degree from Rush Medical College and a Master of Science degree in pathology from the University of Illinois in 1933. In addition to the earned degrees, he received an honorary Doctor of Science from Wilberforce University in 1945 and an honorary law degree from Lincoln University in 1983.
In the 1930s Berry studied under Dr Rudolph Schindler, a gastroenterologist who developed the first practical gastroscope in 1932. He then began using the instrument to study the stomach lining of people addicted to alcohol. Finding he presented to the American Medical association becoming the first Black to present a paper to the AMA.
This and his work on chronic gastritis led to the development of the Eder-Berry gastrobiopsy scope in 1955. This device was the first direct vision suction instrument for removing diseased tissue from the stomach for microscopic examination. He was recognized as one of the leading gastroenterologist in the world by the late 1960s.
He also wrote a remarkable work of family history, entitled I Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ for My Journey: Two Centuries of an African American Minister’s Family . Published in 1981, it opened doors for Berry to speak at historical associations.
Berry interned at the Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC in 1929 – 1930. In 1931 he entered residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago becoming the first Black intern there and completed his internal medicine and gastroenterology residency there in 1935.
In 1934 he became a junior attending physician in gastroenterology at the Provident Hospital, the first Black owned and operated hospital in the United States. He became the chair of the Gastroenterology in 1935, holding that position until 1970. He was also chair of the Department of Medicine 1947 to 1949 and senior attending physician from 1963 to 1980.
Berry became one of the first Black doctors to be admitted to the previously all-White American Medical Association. It is difficult to understand the thinking of a medical association working for the good of all to not openly seek the best to enrich its membership, but here it is.
As president of the Cook County Physicians’ Association, he developed a citywide plan for treating young narcotics addicts. Known as the Berry Plan, it called for the “establishment of medical counseling clinics providing prevention and follow-up care of young drug users. It was implemented and operated by the Illinois State Department of Health.
Among the awards and citations, the following are included:
- University of Chicago Alumni Achievement Award
- Rush Medical College Distinguished Service Award
- Chicago Medical Society Certificate of Merit for Scientific Exhibits
- American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Rudolph Schindler Award
- American College of Gastroenterology Clinical Achievement Award
- NAACP Freedom Award for Public Service – Chicago Chapter
- Rush Medical College Trustee Medal of Honor
Berry was actively involved in community service, specifically civil rights and the study of African American history and life. He was a founding member of the Chicago Council for Biomedical Careers. The council provided education and resources to encourage and prepare African American youth for careers in medicine. Berry also set up an innovative drug treatment clinic in Chicago.
Berry was dedicated to bringing medical care to African American communities that had none. In the 1960s, Berry along with Dr. Jasper Williams and more than two dozen other Chicago medical professionals organized the Flying Black Medics. The Flying Black Medics consisted of nurses, pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, paramedics and biochemists from Chicago. With assistance from the Williams Brothers Medical Clinic, which provided aircraft service, the Flying Black Medics flew to Cairo, Ill., to address the medical needs of its impoverished residents, even during the Cairo race riots of 1970. Regularly the Flying Black Medics brought medical services and supplies to this community. They also set up a medical clinic in the basement of Ward Chapel A.M.E Church.
the Leonidas H. Berry Society for Digestive Diseases was established in 1980. As stated in the society’s bylaws, its purpose “shall be to unify physicians, surgeons and other scientists in the broad field of gastroenterology who are dedicated to encouragement of continued excellence in clinical medicine, research and educational field with high priority and emphasis on human values for all patients regardless of race, sex and religion. The organization shall encourage recruitment of young physicians in the special care of patients with digestive disorders and to promote excellence and progress in this field with the equality of opportunity for all.”
To see the full listing of posts, click on our Blog list There are over 200 posts to inform you of the entire Black Experience and serve to inspire ALL people.
For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. These posts focus on the reality of Black life in America after the Civil War culminating in the landmark Brown v Board of Education that changed so many of the earlier practices. To see the posts, click here
For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here.
This post is part of the 2022 Black History Month celebration with the theme of “Health and Wellness” to see the entire series, click on this link
We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. To see the posts, click here.
We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. To see this mini-series, click here
Schomburg, Arturo The Man Behind the Schomburg
Schomburg The Most Amazing Center of Research
To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us
We encourage you to share the site on social media. We are committed to showing other entire Black Experience and encourage you to watch for our weekly updates.
Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience.
Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items.
**
This video is about Dr. Leonidas Berry.
He was a pioneer in gastroscopy and endoscopy and an inventor who had a long and distinguished medical career. He also was a writer, teacher and active in the community.
clicking on the link below will play the YouTube video
**
I Wouldn’t Take Nothin for My Journey – Book by Dr Berry
**
Gastrointestinal Pan-Endoscopy
ABH – Gastrointestinal Pan-Endoscopy
**
Ulcer Cookbooks
**
Leonidas Harris Berry: African American Physician
clicking on the link below will play the YouTube video
**
Ulcer Medications for Stomach
ABH – Ulcer Medications for Stomach
**
Leonidas Harris Berry
clicking on the link below will play the YouTube video
**
understanding gastroenterology
ABH – understanding gastroentrology
**
What is an endoscopy like?
Learn what an endoscopy is and what your caregivers will learn during your procedure. Then, learn what will happen and who you will meet when you have a procedure at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
clicking on the link below will play the YouTube video
**
Colon Health
**
Preparing for an Upper GI Endoscopy – from the American Gastroenterological Association
In this video from the AGA, Dr. Linda Lee explains what you can expect before, during and after an upper GI endoscopy. More information on upper GI endoscopy is available at www.gastro.org/patient.
clicking on the link below will play the YouTube video
**
Probiotics for Digestive Health
ABH – Probiotics for Digestive Health
**
What are the main risks with gastrointestinal endoscopy?
Dr. Tan Chi Chiu discusses the common concerns patients have before undertaking an endoscopic procedure of the digestive system.
**
As with all medical conditions it is highly recommended that you don’t postpone getting a good medical care team to consult. While seeking self-help, it may be temporary or actually cause additional harm. Put our health at the top of your list for quality of life issues.