Thought today might be a good one to re-post something I'd put on another social network about #SolomonCarterFuller, often celebrated as the 1st Black psychiatrist, but whose place in #neurology and #neuroscience is underrecognized.
As a med student, Fuller attended a key event in the history of US neuropsychiatry: neurologist S. Weir Mitchell’s address to the AMPA (precursor to APA). Mitchell harshly critiqued the absence of a research program in asylum medicine. Asylums responded by setting up new labs; as autopsies were uncommon in the US compared to Europe, Fuller recognized that this new field presented more open opportunity to him as a Black MD, and came to lead a pathology lab at Westboro Hospital.
Like many US docs then, he sought more training in Europe. He studied German and in 1904 went to Munich, where he worked in Alzheimer's lab alongside Frederic #Lewy. He was treated more equitably there than in the US.
After his return to the US, Auguste D died in 1906 and #Alzheimer presented her case; that year Fuller presented one of the first accounts of neurofibrillary pathology to the AMPA. In 1912 Fuller published the 1st review of #AlzheimersDisease cases (including one of his own, the 9th overall) and the first English translation of Alzheimer's work.
In 1909, Fuller was invited to speak at #ClarkUniversity 20th anniversary; other invitees were a “little-known Viennese neurologist and his Swiss colleague” (Anne Harrington, Mind Fixers)—a turning point in US psychiatry. Fuller took interest in psychoanalysis & maintained correspondence w/ #Jung, Meyer & Adler.
Fuller trained a cohort of Black psychiatrists, who mentored others. He led the #BostonUniversity dept of neurology for 5y but underpaid and untitled; when a white assistant prof was named chair ahead of him he went into private practice. His death was commemorated by James B Ayer: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM195401212500316
In addition to these scientific connections, Fuller enjoyed close ties with other important historical figures. His wife Meta was herself an important sculptor championed by #Rodin & they were close with other leaders like #WEBDuBois & #PaulRobeson.
Neurologists and neuroscientists should celebrate Fuller as our colleagues in #psychiatry do. I recommend Mary Kaplan's lively biography Where My Caravan Has Rested, including an oral history that Fuller dictated to his son, to all. #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackInNeuro
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