Morning Steroids

Almost 1,600 physicians from all over the U.S. gathered in Detroit's Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel last week, listened to highly technical papers on such arcane subjects as the treatment of collagen diseases and new analogues of adrenocortical steroids. What made the gathering noteworthy was the identity of the sponsoring organization: the all-Negro National Medical Association. Founded in 1895 and long dedicated to breaking down social and professional prejudice and discrimination against Negro physicians, the N.M.A. could count its battle largely won. The next phase: improving its members' technical competence through a capsulized postgraduate course.

Thanks to the efforts of what are now N.M.A.'s elder statesmen, Negroes today are accepted as members of more and more county medical societies in all states except Louisiana. They have won the right to treat their patients in a growing number of first-class, tax-supported hospitals. To younger elements in N.M.A. leadership, these gains brought a new challenge. Says Washington's Dr. Edward C. Mazique, 48, installed as president last week: "Few Negro physicians can attend well-planned postgraduate courses. In rural areas and small towns they often cannot call in another M.D. to take over their practice for a few weeks. The N.M.A. is offering a compressed substitute."

That a substantial number of Negro physicians, especially the younger ones, want this sort of thing was clear. A few years ago N.M.A. conventions were largely social, did not get rolling before 10 a.m.. ana only 20% of the attendance represented young doctors (out of medical school ten years or less). Last week there was an S.R.O. crowd for the steroids meeting at 8 a.m., and half the registration was of ten-year (and under) doctors.

The program, arranged by Howard University's Professor John B. Johnson Jr., was given by an eminent interracial group of specialists. In the mornings they talked in highly technical terms to fellow specialists; afternoons they tackled the general practitioner's problems. "After all," said Dr. Johnson, "there's no use having ophthalmologists if the G.P. doesn't recognize glaucoma in time to send the patient to the specialist before he goes blind."

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