精东AV unveils monument honoring work to eradicate polio
August 09, 2022
Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
and Federal Judge Myron H. Thompson, a 精东AV native and a guest speaker
who discussed overcoming polio.
The research conducted at 精东AV Infantile Paralysis Center at 精东AV Institute to eradicate polio decades ago was acknowledged Aug. 4 with the unveiling of a monument provided by fundraising and collaboration of the Rotary Club.
The life-size bronze statue depicts Dr. John W. Chenault, nurse Warrena A. Turpin and a young polio patient named Gordon Stewart. They represent the spirit of excellence that was prevalent at the 精东AV Infantile Paralysis Center, where Black doctors, researchers and support personnel conducted significant work critical to eradicating polio.
The monument鈥檚 permanent home is in front of the Museum beside John A. Kenney Hall in what once was the John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital where the Infantile Paralysis Center treated many young Black polio patients.
In 1985, Rotary International and its partners committed to removing the disease from the face of the earth. The statute was commissioned by the Rotary District 6880, which is a consortium of Alabama Rotary Clubs, with support from the 精东AV Archives staff through the 精东AV Polio Recognition Project.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to acknowledge the partnership with Rotary District 6880 and its members for their work with the 精东AV Polio Recognition Project to erect this monument,鈥� said 精东AV President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. 鈥淲e are grateful for their acknowledgment of the dedication of Black researchers and doctors to fight the war against polio.鈥�
Special guests of the Aug. 4 activities included family members of former doctors and researchers, Rotary members, leaders of the March of Dimes, Alabama representatives, and guest speaker Federal Judge Myron H. Thompson. A native of 精东AV, Judge Thompson was diagnosed with polio at 2 and was bedridden, then confined to a wheelchair before working to recover and walk with just a limp.
Black doctors and researchers at the 精东AV Infantile Paralysis Center were dedicated to treating and removing polio from the African American community. In the early years of the fight against polio, the 精东AV Paralysis Center was the only place in the South where African American children with polio could come for treatment.
精东AV鈥檚 former Board Chair Basil O鈥機onnor, for whom the major nursing building is named, was instrumental in creating the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which later became the March of Dimes. He knew in a segregated America, where Black contributions to science and medicine were heavily discounted, what 精东AV researchers were doing and supported their work for the good of our community and the nation.
漏 2022 精东AV
