1342 Haight St., San Francisco, CA 94117
1628 Broadway St., Vallejo, CA 94590
From Dr. Hale to Dr. Jackson: Pioneering Black Healthcare Leadership
Dr. John Henry Hale (1878–1944), a pioneering Black surgeon and educator, left an indelible mark on African American medicine and community health. Known as the “dean of American Negro surgeons,” he performed over 30,000 surgeries and mentored countless Black physicians during his tenure at Meharry Medical College. He founded the Millie E. Hale Hospital and Nursing Training School in Nashville with his wife, Millie Gibson Hale, R.N., which offers healthcare, education, and social services to underserved Black communities. His unwavering commitment to equitable care, mentorship, and excellence inspired generations of healthcare providers and led to the creation of the John Hale Medical Society, named in his honor.
The John Hale Medical Society, founded in San Francisco in 1964 and formally chartered in 1965, was established to support Black healthcare
providers dedicated to serving communities of color. Its mission, “to serve those who serve the health needs of communities of color,” reflected Dr. Hale’s transformative legacy and the vision of its founders. The Society united Black physicians in their commitment to improving healthcare access, fostering professional collaboration, and advancing medical education.
Under the leadership of Dr. Oscar Jackson, M.D., the Society became a cornerstone of Bay Area healthcare and social service. Its initiatives included the John Hale Health Team, which provided free health screenings to underserved residents, earning the organization national recognition as the National Medical Association’s “Chapter of the Year” in 1967. In addition to health services, the Society offered mentorship programs, guest speaker events, and continuing medical education (CME) lectures. Regular dinner meetings and seasonal networking events strengthened professional bonds and deepened the Society’s connection to the communities it served.
Through these efforts, Dr. Jackson and the John Hale Medical Society upheld Dr. Hale’s vision of compassionate, community-focused healthcare, creating a lasting legacy of service, education, and unity among Black healthcare professionals in the Bay Area.
Dr. Oscar J. Jackson, M.D., FACS
THE LEGACY OF