Ordered Steps - by Amalia K Amaki (Hardcover)
About this item
Highlights
- Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley's journey arcs from Mississippi cotton fields to the highest levels of American medicine.
- Author(s): Amalia K Amaki
- 174 Pages
- Biography + Autobiography, Cultural, Ethnic & Regional
Description
About the Book
"Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley experienced a tumultuous yet remarkable journey from poverty in rural Mississippi to high-level appointments in Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., where she acted as U.S. Surgeon General for over two years. Her treatment methods and research on Similac formulas saved countless babies' lives. She oversaw early fund distributions for such autosomal recessive disorders as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. Her effective oversight of the Emory University/Grady Memorial Hospital Family Planning Clinic facilitated health programs benefiting diverse communities"-- Provided by publisher.Book Synopsis
Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley's journey arcs from Mississippi cotton fields to the highest levels of American medicine. Born in Depression-era Jackson, she was four when her beloved grandmother was rushed from their home and never returned. Moments earlier, Audrey had vowed to "become a doctor and help people like you." That promise-sustained by deep faith-carried her through poverty, family upheaval, and the barriers of race and gender. After graduating from Spelman College and Meharry Medical College, Manley forged a 40-year career in pediatrics and public health. She shattered ceilings as the first African-American woman appointed Assistant Surgeon General and later served as Acting Surgeon General of the United States, championing sickle-cell research, women's health, and equitable access to care. Her leadership in the U.S. Public Health Service garnered high decorations and inspired countless Black physicians, especially women. Returning to her alma mater in 1997, Manley became Spelman's eighth-and first alumna-president. Over five transformative years she strengthened finances, expanded the campus, modernized facilities, and attracted distinguished faculty, all while instilling her conviction that faith, scholarship, and service can change lives. From the cotton rows of Mississippi to the Surgeon General's office and the presidency of Spelman College, Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley embodies resilience, purpose, and the healing power of vision guided by grace.
