The DO Book Club, Feb. 2026: ‘Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come’

February is Black History Month in the U.S., so for this column we wanted to spotlight Darnita Anderson Hill, DO. Dr. Hill is a member of a historically important Black family; her father, AOA Past President William G. Anderson, DO, was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement and was also the first Black president of the AOA.

Dr. Hill’s book, “Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come,” was published in 2020 and is a historical narrative based on extensive archival research and her personal knowledge of osteopathic history. She expands on the contributions Black physicians have made to osteopathic medicine; contributions that have been underrepresented in traditional accounts. Her affirmation of the “medical commitment” is powerful and relevant.

“We must examine our commitment and understanding of the system of medical care that we purport to believe,” said Dr. Hill. “It is our responsibility to increase our awareness concerning the inevitable changes that are impacting healthcare … the rendering of medical service must come with a solid belief in the osteopathic way, encompassing its physiology, philosophical principles and ‘wholeness.’ Only then can we catalyze widespread influential and equitable positions that will ultimately service countless needs.” (p. 63)

The book’s title signals its purpose. It asserts that chronicling the role of Black physicians within osteopathic medicine is not simply overdue, it is necessary. The author carefully assembles biographies, professional milestones and important institutional moments to share important details about the lives and work of prominent Black osteopathic physicians. The project has both scholarly and moral urgency because it addresses both history and the present. It questions what we have valued previously and what we have omitted in recounting the development of an entire branch of clinical practice.

Personal tales from Black physicians

Dr. Hill’s approach combines narrative biography with thematic exposition. She identifies key figures, such as the first Black osteopathic physician, and places them in the broader social, political and professional context of their time. Some of the figures include:

• Meta L. Christy, DO: Recognized as the first Black osteopathic physician, she graduated in 1921 from the Philadelphia College of Infirmary and Osteopathy (now PCOM), and practiced in New Mexico, where she served underserved communities for nearly four decades.
• William G. Anderson, DO: A nationally known civil rights leader and the father of the book’s author, he worked closely with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was the first Black president of the AOA.
• Arthur Bouier, DO, MACOI: A pioneering Black osteopathic internist, he was recognized for his leadership and mentorship within the American College of Osteopathic Internists.
• Barbara Ross-Lee, DO: She is the first Black woman to serve as the dean of a U.S. medical school (Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine).

Using this approach makes the book accessible; it invites readers to see the arc of individual lives alongside the structural barriers that shaped them. The methodology leans on educational sources, personal interviews and institutional records. In doing so, it situates Black contributions within a historical timeline that has too often excluded them. The narrative is chronological but also thematic, emphasizing patterns of exclusion and achievement. Because osteopathic medicine struggled for legitimacy itself as a distinct profession, these histories of Black osteopathic physicians intersect with larger social histories of exclusion and acceptance in U.S. medicine.

The book demonstrates how Black osteopathic physicians have played important roles in patient care, community health and the evolution of the osteopathic medical profession. Their contributions extend from clinical leadership to advocacy within their communities. The book highlights figures who exemplify resilience, community commitments and clinical excellence. In doing so, the author shows that diversity within the profession is not ancillary, it is central to its development and continued existence.

Dr. Hill also notes that physicians in osteopathic medicine have delivered comprehensive care grounded in the osteopathic philosophy that profession founder A.T. Still, DO, developed. Osteopathic physicians understand that treating the whole person is fundamental to full-body health. The book recognizes that many osteopathic physicians have provided this care in settings and communities underserved by the broader healthcare system.

Representation of marginalized communities

Another critical finding is the symbolic and practical importance of representation. The narrative makes it clear that Black patients have benefited when they can see themselves reflected in their caregivers and when those caregivers understand the social realities that shape the health and illness of their patients. This thread resonates with current research on trust and disparities in medicine. It reminds readers that exclusion not only impoverishes the historical record, but it also impoverishes clinical practice and community trust.

While the book is rich in narrative detail, it is not a fully documented academic monograph. It lacks extensive footnotes, and it depends more on storytelling than on systematic analysis. So for some scholars accustomed to heavily cited academic history, this may limit the book’s engagement with broader historiographies. While selective, it would be difficult to recount the entirety of Black DOs’ contributions to osteopathic medicine in one volume. This means that some figures are necessarily highlighted more than others, and those choices shape the narrative. Further, while Dr. Hill’s narrative rightly acknowledges structural racism and exclusion, it does not fully analyze the broader social determinants that continue to impact equity in medical education and professional advancement.

The book’s broader implication is the challenge it poses to conventional histories of American medicine. It argues that our standard accounts are incomplete. For some readers, this may provoke discomfort. History has traditionally been written by dominant institutions. To foreground stories that have been omitted is not simply revision; it is rebalancing. Some may question the selection of subjects or the interpretive lens the author uses. However, it still brings the reader to worthwhile questions and consideration—those questions can be healthy, because they force us to consider why certain histories are forgotten and others preserved.

The importance of personal stories

Applied to modern healthcare, the book’s implications are profound. It reinforces the necessity of diversity within health professions. It also asks educators and clinical leaders to reflect on what is taught and what is assumed in our professional culture. Recognition of the past can help shape recruitment, retention and mentorship in osteopathic schools and in healthcare broadly. When young students see exemplars who reflect their own identities and histories, the message is clear: You belong here. Beyond osteopathic medicine, this text echoes larger debates about inclusion and equity in medicine, debates that are central to improving patient care and reducing disparities.

“Health is the right of every individual, said Dr. Hill. “As such, it carries with it an obligation. Physicians, therefore, should find greater reward and contentment simply through the noble act rendered.” (p. xi)

“Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come” occupies an important space between historical record and moral imperative. Its strength lies in humanizing a profession, while challenging it to see its own history more completely. It will appeal to readers who value history as lived experience and to professionals seeking a deeper understanding of how access, representation and recognition shape medical culture. As a history, it may not satisfy every academic standard, but as a corrective and catalyst for future work it is timely and necessary.

Related reading:

Black History Month: Recognizing the Black DOs I looked up to during my medical training

Food from the soul: A history of African American culture and nutrition