Women Medical Pioneers: Alexander-Nickens

It has not always been easy for women to make their mark in the field of medicine. However, many of those who braved discrimination hurdles have not only made their mark – they have made history.

Dr. Myrna Alexander-Nickens has the distinction of making two “firsts” in Mississippi: she was the first African-American female cardiologist and the first female interventional cardiologist in the state.

Alexander-Nickens and many other female physicians will be highlighted when the Rowland Medical Library hosts the traveling exhibition “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians,” March 7-April 8, 2008, at the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center.

Alexander-Nickens is the oldest of three children. She completed her undergraduate studies at Tougaloo College, where she was president of the pre-health club. She received the MD in 1982 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., and completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich.

She remained at Henry Ford Hospital to complete her cardiology fellowship and interventional cardiology fellowships. From 1993-1995, she served as associate director of the cardiac inpatient unit and was instructor of medical student clinical cardiology, residents and interns in clinical cardiology and interventional/clinical cardiology.

Presently, Alexander-Nickens is chair of cardiovascular services at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital and is in private practice at Jackson Cardiology Associates. She also is an active staff physician at the Central Mississippi Medical Center.

Alexander-Nickens is active in the American Medical Association, the American College of Cardiology, the Association of Black Cardiologists, and the National Medical Association, where she served as president of the Mississippi chapter.

“Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians” was developed by the Exhibition Program of the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition has been made possible by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health. The American Medical Women’s Association provided additional support.

--Dani Edmonson (11-26-07)

2007-11-21 00:00:00 3313