Here are some more facts about Charles R. Drew:
- Drew was born in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 1904.
- He attended Amherst College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1926.
- He then attended medical school at Columbia University and earned his medical degree in 1933.
- After completing his internship at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, Drew went on to earn a doctorate in medical science from Columbia University in 1940.
- In 1940, Drew was recruited by the American Red Cross to organize and direct the nation's first large-scale blood bank.
- He developed the first successful method for storing and preserving blood plasma, which made it possible to save the lives of thousands of soldiers during World War II.
- In 1942, Drew resigned from the American Red Cross after he was refused permission to allow black doctors to serve on the organization's blood donation team.
- He went on to become the head of the Department of Surgery at Howard University Medical School in Washington, D.C.
- In 1948, Drew was appointed chief medical director of the Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, D.C.
- He died in a car accident in Burlington, North Carolina, on April 1, 1950, at the age of 45.
Drew was a pioneer in the field of blood banking, and his work helped to save the lives of thousands of people. He was also a strong advocate for racial equality, and his efforts helped pave the way for the integration of the American Red Cross and other medical organizations.