Dr. T.A. Fletcher
Dr. Thomas Augustus Fletcher was born in 1886. He earned his medical degree in 1912 and later trained as an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology and treatment of the eye.
Ophthalmology was the first field to develop a board which examines physicians on their knowledge of the discipline. Over time, other specialties developed similar board exams. Before 1960, however, most African-American physicians were denied admission to residency programs that provided specialized training in various fields. Thus, many of them became general practitioners or looked to alternative methods to expand their knowledge of particular fields.
When Dr. Fletcher moved to Houston in the 1940s he was one of the first board-certified black physicians.
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