Once on the staff, he successfully argued for other black physicians to gain similar privileges, she said.

The black physicians are on to something, and others have reached similar conclusions.

He was one of the only two black physicians in the community.

"In those days, many black patients did not want to come to a black physician," she says.

"It is still difficult for black physicians to get into training programs in these high-specialty areas."

His right hand was buried in the open jaws of the black physician's bag.

Atlanta was under served by black physicians, who trained and served elsewhere.

More than a hospital, it is a historic institution that was one of the few places in the country where black physicians could train and practice.

"He set the standard for what it meant to be a black physician, particularly in the segregated Washington of that day."

Some of these programs have never trained a black physician.