By: Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, a pioneering physician, educator, and public health leader, dedicated her life to improving the healthcare of underserved communities, particularly minority and low-income families. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939, Gaston grew up in a familial environment that valued determination and a commitment to social equality.
Dr. Gaston faced numerous obstacles as a young girl, including racial prejudice and economic hardship. Her passion for medicine burned brightly. By the age of 9, she had set her sights on becoming a doctor. In 1960, Gaston graduated from Miami University with a degree in Zoology, and soon after, she enrolled in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She was one of only six women in her class, and the only African American woman.
After completing her medical degree in 1964, Dr. Gaston finished her internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, followed by a pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center. During these formative years, her growing interest in pediatric care found its focus when she encountered sickle cell disease (SCD) during her internship. This disease, which causes chronic anemia and severe pain due to abnormal sickle-shaped red blood cells, became the cornerstone of her future research and clinical work.
Dr. Gaston’s first direct encounter with sickle cell disease came during a routine admission of a baby with a swollen hand. The baby had no signs of trauma, and Gaston initially could not explain the swelling. Her supervising resident suggested testing for sickle cell disease, a condition Gaston had not fully considered.
When the test came back positive, the child’s condition was traced to a sickle cell-related infection. The incident had a profound effect on Dr. Gaston and inspired her to become an expert in the disease, setting her on a path to groundbreaking research and advocacy.
Her work on sickle cell disease would go on to shape public health policy in significant ways. In 1986, Dr. Gaston published a groundbreaking study that demonstrated the effectiveness of early intervention for infants diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Her research showed that administering prophylactic penicillin to these infants could prevent the life-threatening infections that were a common complication of the disease.
This discovery led to national legislation that funded and promoted newborn screening for sickle cell disease, which has since saved countless lives—especially for minority patients. Within a year of the publication, forty states adopted screening programs, marking a major victory for Dr. Gaston and public health.
The success of Dr. Gaston’s work was not limited to the United States. Her research on sickle cell disease and its management became influential worldwide, with data from African nations supporting the efficacy of penicillin therapy. This global impact culminated in her receiving the prestigious National Medical Association (NMA) Scroll of Merit in 1999, and several honorary degrees, in recognition of her tireless advocacy for health equity and her scientific contributions.
In addition to her research achievements, Dr. Gaston made history in 1990 by becoming the first African American woman to direct a public health service bureau in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As the director of the Bureau of Primary Health Care, she managed a $5 billion budget, overseeing healthcare services for 12 million Americans, particularly those from underserved communities. In this role, she worked to ensure that those who had long been excluded from quality healthcare services received the care they needed.
Dr. Gaston’s impact on public health was not only felt in the policies she helped shape but also in the lives she touched through her advocacy and mentorship. Upon her retirement in 2001, the staff of the Bureau of Primary Health Care presented her with data from a prophylactic penicillin program implemented in Africa.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gaston received numerous honors, including every award given by the Public Health Service, and was celebrated by the NMA with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her legacy extends beyond these accolades through the Marilyn Hughes Gaston Scholarship, established at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The scholarship supports underprivileged minority students pursuing medical degrees.
Through her work, Dr. Gaston not only changed the lives of countless individuals with sickle cell disease but also paved the way for future generations of minority healthcare leaders.
