CHEST Recognizes Contributions of the Black Angels With Honorary FCCP Designation
October 1, 2024
Known as the Black Angels, the nurses working at Sea View Hospital during the 1920s TB surge will be honored at the CHEST Annual Meeting 2024 in Boston with the title of Honorary Fellows of the College of Chest Physicians
GLENVIEW, IL – During the Opening Session of the CHEST Annual Meeting in Boston on October 6, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) will recognize the Black Angels with the distinction of Honorary Fellows of the College of Chest Physicians (Honorary FCCP).
Virginia Allen, DHL, LPN, one of the last living Black Angels, will accept the recognition on behalf of her colleagues. Allen worked at Sea View Hospital from 1947 to 1957, during the time when the cure for tuberculosis was discovered. The Black Angels, a term affectionately bestowed by patients, were Black nurses recruited in the 1920s to care for those suffering from active tuberculosis at Staten Island’s Sea View Hospital. The deadly disease claimed the lives of 5.6 million U.S. residents between 1900 and 1950. Their work played a vital role alongside CHEST member Edward Robitzek, MD, FCCP, who in 1951 led the first human trials of isoniazid, one of the most successful treatments for TB.
“On behalf of CHEST and the Board of Regents, it is my great honor to bestow upon the Black Angels the distinction of Honorary Fellows of the College of Chest Physicians. This long-overdue recognition is a testament to the profound impact that all the members of this esteemed group have made within the chest medicine community and for public health,” says CHEST President, Jack Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP. “The Black Angels demonstrated an unwavering commitment to patient care and clinical research despite discrimination, inequitable treatment, and great personal cost. By bestowing this honor to the Black Angels, we celebrate not only their individual and collective accomplishments but also acknowledge the integral role of the care team in fostering a more equitable health care system.”
As Honorary FCCPs, the Black Angels join the distinguished group of CHEST members who actively advance the field of chest medicine. To be an FCCP is a signifier of professional distinction.
“I am thrilled to see the recognition of the Black Angels whose contributions were pivotal during a critical time in public health,” says Danielle McCamey, DNP, APRN-BC, FCCP, Assistant Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “To learn about nurses who look like me pave the way and make a global impact is truly inspiring. I brought this story to the organization to share it with PCCM clinicians around the world. As a proud CHEST member, I’m honored to be part of an organization righting history—this is a historic moment for us all.”
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 22,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians, visit chestnet.org.
About CHEST 2024
CHEST 2024 is the 90th annual meeting for the American College of Chest Physicians, taking place in Boston, MA, Oct. 6 to Oct. 9, 2024. The American College of Chest Physicians, publisher of the journal CHEST®, is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team-based care. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 22,000 members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For more information about CHEST 2024, visit https://www.chestnet.org/Learning-and-Events/Events/CHEST-Annual-Meeting, or follow the CHEST meeting hashtag, #CHEST2024, on social media.