May Edward Chinn made history as the first black woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1926. She also was the first black woman to intern at Harlem Hospital, but because of her race could not go on to a hospital residency.
Now an activist is pushing to honor Chinn, who went on to do pioneering work despite the racial discrimination she faced, by naming a street for her near her alma mater, which is now the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Michelle Deal Winfield, a retired educator, is gathering support to name the corner of East 29th Street and First Avenue for Chinn.
An effort is underway to name the corner of East 29th Street and First Avenue for Chinn.
Chinn was the first black woman to intern at Harlem Hospital, but because of her race could not go on to a hospital residency.
Chinn eventually opened her own practice in Harlem and was the first woman to join New York City ambulance crews on emergency calls.
Chinn focused on cancer detection, doing groundbreaking work on the Pap smear to find cervical cancer, Winfield said.
She died at 84 in 1980, after a long career at the famed Strang Clinic.
Chinn died in 1980.
“Her life and legacy inspires everyone,” Winfield said.
The street naming request must be approved by Community Board 6, where Winfield gave a short presentation on Chinn Wednesday. If approved, the request would then go to the City Council.
