Ferguson, Angella D.
1925-2026 · Contribution: 1950s-1970s
Pediatric research on sickle cell disease in Black infants; developed a blood test to detect the disease at birth and clinical guidelines for diagnosing/treating it in children; found that daily water intake reduced sickle-cell crises and recommended increased oxygen during surgery
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Her newborn blood test became standard in 40 U.S. states and shaped clinical guidelines for sickle cell care; co-founded the Association for Sickle Cell Anemia Research with Roland Scott.
Life & background
African-American pediatrician born Feb 15, 1925 in Washington, DC; biology degree and MD from Howard University. Professor of pediatrics at Howard/Freedmen's Hospital; later head of Howard's Office of Health Affairs, overseeing major hospital construction. Died Jan 6, 2026, age 100.
Sources
- The Washington Post; PubMed; Clinical Pediatrics
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