By Tiera Wade, Cervivor Ambassador

Black History Month isn’t just about looking back — it’s about honoring the people whose courage, brilliance, and leadership are still shaping how we experience healthcare today.

As a five-year cervical cancer survivor and advocate, this conversation is personal. Representation in medicine isn’t symbolic — it directly impacts who gets heard, who gets screened, and ultimately, who survives. Black women are more likely to die from cervical cancer than any other racial or ethnic group and are more often diagnosed at a later stage.

At Cervivor, our mission is to eradicate cervical cancer, along with unnecessary stigma, suffering, and death that continue to disproportionately impact communities of color. That mission requires not only awareness and advocacy, but leadership within medicine itself.

These three Black physicians didn’t just enter medicine — they transformed it by confronting disparities head-on and demanding accountability and healthcare equity for all. The first OB/GYN was a pioneer in her time; the others are still practicing today.

Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett

Ethelene Jones Crockett, MD, was a pioneer in women’s health and public leadership.

• First African American female board-certified OB/GYN in Michigan, 1952
• First woman president of the American Lung Association, 1977

As an OB/GYN, Dr. Crockett’s mission was rooted in the then-emerging field of cervical cancer prevention. She championed routine Pap testing, early detection, and patient education at a time when healthcare for Black women was not a priority. From the start of her practice in the 1940s, she dedicated her career to dismantling barriers, creating community-based pathways to the screenings and lifesaving treatments that were previously out of reach for so many.

She didn’t just treat patients — she opened doors and redefined leadership in medicine.

Dr. Uché Blackstock

Uché Blackstock, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and founder of Advancing Health Equity.

• National leader in confronting racial bias in healthcare
• Advisor to health systems and policymakers on equity reform
• Author and public health educator advancing anti-racist medical practices

Dr. Blackstock’s work addresses the structural inequities that directly affect cervical cancer outcomes. Black women experience higher mortality rates not because cervical cancer is untreatable, but because of delayed diagnoses, gaps in screening, and inequitable care delivery.

She challenges institutions to move beyond performative statements and toward measurable accountability. That kind of leadership moves us closer to Cervivor’s vision of a future where cervical cancer no longer claims lives needlessly.

Dr. Karen Y. Winkfield

Karen Y. Winkfield, MD, PhD, is a nationally recognized radiation oncologist and cancer disparities researcher.

• Former executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
• Leader in radiation oncology and cancer health equity research
• Advocate for expanding access to high-quality cancer treatment in underserved communities. 

Dr. Winkfield’s work focuses on eliminating racial disparities in cancer care — including access to timely treatment and survivorship support. In cervical cancer, where Black women continue to face higher death rates, equitable treatment pathways are critical.

She represents what happens when clinical excellence meets justice-driven advocacy.

The Change Still Needed to Save Lives

Cervical cancer is largely preventable. Yet disparities remain.

These Black physicians embody three powerful pillars of change:

• Preventive women’s healthcare access
  
• Health system accountability
  
• Equity in cancer treatment and survivorship

As someone who has walked through a cervical cancer diagnosis, I know that screening matters. Early detection matters. Being heard matters. 

Cervivor’s work is rooted in these same truths — breaking down stigma, amplifying survivor voices, and ensuring every woman has access to prevention, timely care, and support. Cervical cancer disparities are a painful reminder of the human cost when healthcare is treated as a privilege instead of a right.

Black women in medicine have been pushing this work forward for generations, often while navigating the very barriers they worked to dismantle.

This Black History Month, we don’t just celebrate titles. We celebrate transformation — and recommit ourselves to the work of ending cervical cancer for everyone.

About the Author

TIERA WADE is an artisan designer, dedicated patient advocate, and Stage II cervical cancer survivor based in Akron, Ohio. Diagnosed at age 39 with squamous cell carcinoma, she endured 36 rounds of radiation and brachytherapy during the height of the pandemic — a journey that tested her resilience and deepened her commitment to holistic healing and mental health. As the owner of SetTrendz Jewelry, Tiera channels her creativity into empowerment, using her platform to center the voices of Black survivors in spaces where they are often overlooked. In recognition of her impact in education and advocacy, Tiera received the 2024 Cervivor Spark Award and was named a 2025 Cervivor Champion. A graduate of the 2023 Cervivor School, her story has been featured in Health Monitor magazine and multiple Ohio media outlets. She serves as Lead of Cervivor Noir and recently moderated a panel at the 2026 Cervical Cancer Summit Powered by Cervivor, Inc. Guided by her faith and family, Tiera’s message is simple and powerful: “Cervical cancer is preventable with proper screening, and every person is worth prioritizing their own health.”