Medicine: 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...

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