User:Emilylavia/Jane C. Wright

Personal life[edit]
On July 27, 1947, Wright married David D. Jones and the couple had two daughters: Jane Wright Jones and Alison Jones. Her husband was an attorney and became founder of anti-poverty and job training organizations for young African Americans. Unfortunately, in 1976, Mr. Jones died of heart failure.

In addition to her love of the sciences, Jane was fond of watercolor painting, reading mystery novels, swimming, and sailing. Upon receiving the Merit Award from Mademoiselle in 1952, she stated, "My plans for the future are to continue seeking a cure for cancer, to be a good mother to my children, and a good wife to my husband."

Key Notes
Specifically focused on cancer treatments

One of the first doctors to combat cancer with drugs (specifically triethyl-enemelamine), do testing through clinical trials

Very persistent African American woman

Only seeing positive results in a few patients was enough to make her happy

Picked up the slack of other physicians

Figured out new ways to administer chemotherapy

Anticancer agents in tissue cultures - worked on this with her father

Wright was a very determined woman from the start. In 1980, the famous Rubik's cube came out, and she immediately bought one and learned to solve it. She was passionate about puzzles and learning how to solve them (3), including the puzzles found in medicine (specifically treating cancer). She realized that she lived in a world where men dominated the medical field, but she did not care - she was eager to make contributions to medicine, specifically to the treatment of cancer, and did not let her gender hold her back. Additionally, she lived during a time where "black pride" (2) was a huge movement, and being an African American woman, used this movement to her full advantage. However, this did not mean she was boastful or self-centered. She was said to be very modest and very tender with her patients, while still being very motivated and fearless. She was also known to pick up her fellow physicians' slack (3). In other words, if one physician did not take the time to look into other treatments that may benefit their patient more, Wright did, even if they were not her patient.

Her daughters also grew up to work in the medical field, one becoming a psychiatrist and the other a clinical psychologist (3). This contributes to Wright being apart of a "medical dynasty" (1).

In fact, before Wright took up studying medicine, she was majoring in art.

Once Wright retired from her work in 1987, she spent the rest of her life partaking in things she enjoyed, such as sailing, watercoloring, and reading mysteries (4). Wright passed away on February 19, 2013 in Guttenberg, New Jersey at 93 years old (1). Her two daughters and her sister survive her (1).

Early life and education[edit]
Wright was born in Manhattan to Corinne Cooke, a public school teacher, and Louis T. Wright, a graduate of Meharry Medical College and one of the first African American graduates from Harvard Medical School. Her father, Louis Tompkins Wright, was from a medical family. He was the child of Dr. Ceah Ketcham Wright, a physician graduated from Bencake Medical College, and stepson of William Fletcher Penn, the first African-American graduate of Yale Medical College. Wright's uncle, Harold Dadford West, was also a physician, ultimately president of Meharry Medical College. In becoming physicians, Jane Wright and her sister Barbara Wright Pierce both followed in their father's and grandfathers' footsteps, overcoming both gender and racial bias succeed in a largely white male profession.

Jane's family had a strong history of academic achievement in medicine. The first medical member of the Wright family was Dr. Ceah Ketcham Wright. Ceah was first born into slavery, and after the Civil War, Ceah earned his medical degree at Meharry Medical College. Jane's stepfather, Dr. William Fletcher Penn was the first African American to graduate form Yale Medical College. Lastly, Jane's father, Dr. Louis T. Wright, who she took her greatest inspiration from, was among the first black students to earn an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and the first African American doctor at a public hospital in New York City. During his 30 years working at the Harlem Hospital, he founded and directed the Harlem Hospital Cancer Research Foundation.

Jane attended Smith College, originally wanting to pursue a degree in art, however, her father suggested to change her studies to pre-medical studies. After her studies at Smith College, Jane earned a full scholarship to study medicine at New York Medical College. She graduated as a part of an accelerated three-year program at the top of her class in 1945 with the honors award. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Wright earned an internship at Bellevue Hospital during 1945 and 1946. In 1947, she married David D. Jones, Jr, an attorney In 1949, she completed her surgical residency at Harlem Hospital in 1948, where her father was.[citation needed]

As a child, Wright attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, then the "Ethical Culture" school and the "Fieldston School", from which she graduated in 1938. She graduated with an art degree from Smith College in 1942 and then earned a medical degree, graduating with honors in 1945 from the New York Medical College.

Key Notes
At Fieldston School - her favorite subjects were science and math, was the yearbook's art editor, and the captain of the swim team.

At Smith College - went there on scholarship, was a member of the varsity swim team, and studied German (living in the school's German house for a little while).

At New York Medical College - required to graduate in only three years due to World War II

During her time at the Fieldston School, Wright was very involved. She served as the school yearbook's art editor and was named the captain of the swim team. Her favorite subjects to study were math and science (4). After attending the Fieldston School, Wright received a scholarship to Smith College, where she furthered her studies and continued to be very involved. Here, she swam on the varsity swim team and found a passion for the German language, where she actually lived in the school's German house for a while (4). Once her time here was finished, she received yet another scholarship to the New York Medical College, where she was required to graduate in only three years due to World War II. However, this did not hinder Wright, for she graduated with honors and immediately accepted an internship at Bellevue Hospital.