Jefferson became the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School in 1951. She was the first woman to be a surgical intern at Boston City Hospital and the first woman admitted to membership in the Boston Surgical Society. She is, however, best-known for her longtime support and involvement in the right-to-life movement in America. She helped to establish the National Right to Life Committee and served three times as its president. She has been a local, regional and national speaker and activist.
After her Harvard Medical School graduation, Jefferson served as a general surgeon with the former Boston University Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Boston University Medical School.
Jefferson has had a career-long interest in medical jurisprudence, medical ethics and the interface between medicine and law, as well as their impact on public policy and society. As a founding member of state and national right-to-life organizations, and also being the Former President of National Right to Life.
Jefferson is a founding member of the Board of Governors and a past President of the Value of Life Committee of Massachusetts and is also active with the American Life League and Americans United for Life Legal Defense Fund. Jefferson is also a member of Black Americans for Life and is held in high esteem by Feminists for Life. She befriended President Ronald Reagan, who wrote a letter to Dr. Jefferson stating after seeing her debate on TV he was officialy changing from being Pro-Choice to Pro-Life. Jefferson passed away on October 18, 2010.
Jefferson became the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School in 1951. She was the first woman to be a surgical intern at Boston City Hospital and the first woman admitted to membership in the Boston Surgical Society. She is, however, best-known for her longtime support and involvement in the right-to-life movement in America. She helped to establish the National Right to Life Committee and served three times as its president. She has been a local, regional and national speaker and activist.
After her Harvard Medical School graduation, Jefferson served as a general surgeon with the former Boston University Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Boston University Medical School.
Jefferson has had a career-long interest in medical jurisprudence, medical ethics and the interface between medicine and law, as well as their impact on public policy and society. As a founding member of state and national right-to-life organizations, and also being the Former President of National Right to Life.
Jefferson is a founding member of the Board of Governors and a past President of the Value of Life Committee of Massachusetts and is also active with the American Life League and Americans United for Life Legal Defense Fund. Jefferson is also a member of Black Americans for Life and is held in high esteem by Feminists for Life. She befriended President Ronald Reagan, who wrote a letter to Dr. Jefferson stating after seeing her debate on TV he was officialy changing from being Pro-Choice to Pro-Life. Jefferson passed away on October 18, 2010.