Dr. Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker, Sr., MD,FAC

December 7, 1906 -July 15, 1978

African-American physician and surgeon that was a pioneer and one of the most prominent Black doctors in the 20th century in the United States.

Walker chaired the college’s Department of Surgery from 1945 to 1973, was provost for external affairs from 1973-78, and was president of the National Medical Association. He was a professor of surgery and gynecology at Meharry from 1944 until his death. In 1958, students honored him by creating the Matthew Walker Surgical Society.

He was the first vice president of the Metro Board of Hospitals

He spearheaded community healthcare centers for the poor in the Mississippi River basin, including the Matthew Walker Health Center in Nashville. President Richard Nixon applauded this in a letter in 1970.

Walker was the first vice president of the Metro Board of Hospitals. He was one of the first black men to become a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was a diplomat on the American Board of Surgeons and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Matthew Walker was born December 7, 1906 in Waterproof, La. After attending school in New Orleans, he graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1934 and began teaching at Hubbard Hospital. Walker served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery from 1945-73 and was instrumental in securing a 1968 federal grant to start the Meharry Neighborhood Health Center. In 1970 the community-based clinic’s name was changed to the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center in his honor.

He was an African-American physician and surgeon. He was one of the first African Americans to become a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was a diplomat. He was t. He was one of the first black men to Surgeon and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He was one of the most prominent Black doctors in the 20th century in the United States.

Matthew Walker was a 1934 graduate (with honors) from Meharry Medical College. He served his internship at Meharry’s Hubbard Hospital the following year and entered into surgical pursuits, which were to occupy the remainder of his career. Following his internship, he remained at Hubbard Hospital for three years, 1935-1938, as a resident in surgery and gynecology. Meharry’s faculty and manpower needs at the time were such that Dr. Walker had the opportunity to reinforce his training in the basic sciences, an essential for a surgeon. Thus, while a resident, he served as an instructor in anatomy from 1935-1938, and as an instructor in surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, anesthesia, and eye, ear, nose, and throat from 1936-1938. He spent 1938-1939 at Howard University, pursuing advanced training in surgery under Dr. Edward L. Howes, the professor and head of the department of Surgery. Upon returning to Meharry in 1939, he was appointed assistant professor of surgery and gynecology, a position held until 1942. Dr. Walker became a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1935 and a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery in 1946. In 1947, he became a fellow of the International College of Surgeons, and, in 1950, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His credentials as a surgeon were thus flawless. It is worth noting that all his education and training were obtained in black institutions and his entire career was spent under the aegis of his medical alma mater.

In 1956, Dr. Walker performed surgery and demonstrated the use of radioactive gold in the treatment of cancer on the nationally televised program “Medical Horizons”. He served as the 54th president of National Medical Association in 1954-1955 and was its 14th Distinguished Service Medalist in 1959. In 1973, he was named National Omega Man of the Year by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity. He also formed the Matthew Walker Surgical Society and the Matthew Walker Community Health Center.

Dr. Matthew Walker gentleman with the passion and drive he believed in. He reinvented the care and chain of facilities for those in need.He opened the door for more African Americans to be educated in the medical field. Half of the doctors in that era were mentored by Dr. Walker. Today he is still considered a genius past and the present day.

Walker worked until he was hospitalized shortly before his death in 1978.

Resource: Images and text Meharry Medical College Archives.