Adriano Espaillat: “Today I rise in honor of the life and legacy of Harlem's very own Dr. May Edward Chinn, a pioneer Black female physician…”

“Today I rise in honor of the life and legacy of Harlem's very own Dr. May Edward Chinn, a pioneer Black female physician in New York City. Dr. Chinn was the first Black woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital's Medical College in 1926, which is now known as New York University's Grossman School of Medicine. She is also the first Black woman to complete an internship at Harlem Hospital in 1928. Dr. Chinn dedicated her life to serving others. Through her determination and hard work, she helped advance medical treatments for cancer screening that continue to save lives today. Like many of her predecessors, Dr. Chinn persisted and persevered. I am grateful to the Harlem Cultural Archives for its research to share this story, and I am honored to share the story of one of Harlem's gems so that her work does not go unnoticed and her legacy does not remain anonymous. ____________________”