Black History Month Feature: Dr. William Carter Jenkins

February is Black History Month! This year’s theme is “Black Health and Wellness” and the Hudson College of Public Health Sovereignty, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council is offering a three-week feature highlighting the many ways in which the Black community has contributed to healthcare!

Dr. William Carter Jenkins was born in South Carolina in 1945. He earned a bachelor’s degree at MoreHouse College, his MS degree in biostatistics at Georgetown University, and an MPH and PhD in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina. He was recruited by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to work as a statistician for the North Carolina Health Service. He was involved in working toward ending the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment in 1969.

Dr. Jenkins was employed at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 1980-2003. While at the CDC, he created multiple health programs focusing on eliminating African American and minority health disparities. He founded Project IMHOTEP, an internship designated for minorities to gain knowledge and experience in many health fields and occupations. He helped develop and influence health care and public health programs. After retirement, he remained a professor and mentor to students until his passing in 2019.