Patricia Bath

Who Was Patricia Bath?

Patricia Bath was a trailblazing African American physician and inventor, best known for revolutionizing cataract treatment with her invention of the Laserphaco Probe. Driven by an early passion for science, Bath became a pioneering ophthalmologist and the first Black person to complete training in ophthalmology at Columbia University in 1969. Throughout her career, she focused on expanding access to eye care for underserved communities, co-founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in 1976, which advocated that “eyesight is a basic human right.” In 1988, Bath patented the Laserphaco Probe, making her the first African American woman to receive a medical patent. She passed away in May 2019 at age 76 and was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early Life

Patricia Era Bath was born on November 4, 1942, in Harlem, New York City. Her father, Rupert Bath, was the first Black motorman for the New York City subway system, while her mother, Gladys Bath, worked as a domestic worker. Patricia’s parents fostered her intellectual curiosity—her father, a former Merchant Marine, encouraged her to explore the world, while her mother sparked her interest in science by giving her a chemistry set.

At the age of 16, Patricia attended a National Science Foundation cancer research workshop, where her contributions impressed the program’s head, Dr. Robert Bernard, so much that he included her findings in a scientific paper. This early success earned her the Mademoiselle magazine’s Merit Award in 1960.

Education

Bath graduated from high school in just two years and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in 1964. She then pursued a medical degree at Howard University, graduating with honors in 1968. After completing an internship at Harlem Hospital, Bath became the first Black person to train in ophthalmology at Columbia University. Her research at Columbia revealed racial disparities in eye health, with Black Americans being significantly more likely to suffer from blindness and glaucoma. This led her to develop the concept of community ophthalmology, which provided greater access to eye care for underserved populations. Bath completed her residency at New York University in 1973.

Pioneer in Ophthalmology

In 1974, Bath moved to California, where she became an assistant professor of surgery at both Charles R. Drew University and UCLA. In 1975, she became the first woman to join UCLA’s Department of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. A year later, she co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, advancing the idea that vision care is a fundamental human right. By 1983, Bath had also helped establish the Ophthalmology Residency Training Program at UCLA-Drew, becoming the first woman in the U.S. to chair such a program.

Inventions: Laserphaco Probe and Other Patents

In 1981, Bath began developing the Laserphaco Probe, a groundbreaking device that used laser technology to make cataract surgery more precise and less painful. She patented the device in 1988, becoming the first African American woman to hold a medical patent. Her invention has been used worldwide to restore vision to countless individuals, some of whom had been blind for over 30 years. Bath held five U.S. patents during her career, including those related to advanced cataract removal techniques using ultrasonic and laser technology.

Later Career

Bath retired from UCLA Medical Center in 1993 but remained active in the medical field, particularly advocating for telemedicine to extend healthcare to remote areas. Among her many accolades, she was named a “Howard University Pioneer in Academic Medicine.”

Family

Patricia Bath had one daughter, Eraka, with her husband Dr. Beny J. Primm, an early advocate for heroin addiction treatment. Their daughter, Eraka, followed in her mother’s footsteps, earning a medical degree from Howard University and becoming a professor of psychiatry at UCLA.

Death and Honors

Patricia Bath passed away on May 30, 2019, from cancer-related complications at the age of 76. Her contributions to medicine were widely recognized, with honors such as her 2001 induction into the American Medical Women’s Association’s International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame and a posthumous induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022. Bath’s legacy continues to inspire, and in 2024, she will be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame alongside notable figures like Ruby Bridges and Serena Williams.