5. Charles Drew
Charles Drew [Image from Wikipedia]
Drew was responsible for setting up and administering an early program for blood storage and preservation in late 1940 before the U.S. joined World War II. His job was to collect, test and transport large amounts of blood plasma to be distributed in the U.K. He later went on to start bloodmobiles that were trucks with refrigeration units that stored blood. This allowed blood to be transported much easier.
Drew created a central location for blood collection processes. People could donate blood at these locations and the plasma could be tested before being shipped out. This concept later became known as the American Red Cross Blood Bank.
Throughout World War II, Drew criticized the practice of segregating blood donated from blacks from the overall blood supplies, according to a profile on NIH’s website.
Drew went to medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and later did graduate work at Columbia University, where he went on to receive his doctor of medical science degree.
