Lewis Hugh Milburn

Lewis Hugh Milburn (February 24, 1929 – February 24, 1992) was a Canadian physician and aerospace medicine specialist. In 1957, he became the first Black medical graduate of the University of Western Ontario's medical school, now the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.

Early life and education Milburn was born in Windsor, Ontario, to Louis Milburn and Geneva Cross-Milburn. He attended Patterson Collegiate Institute in Windsor and McGill University in Montreal before graduating from medical school at the University of Western Ontario. Western University reported that he later became the first Black Canadian flight surgeon and rose to become deputy director of aerospace medicine in the U.S. Air Force.

Community service Milburn was active in medical and community organizations in Detroit. His death notice stated that he served on the executive board of the Detroit Medical Society and was a delegate of the Wayne County Medical Society. It also stated that he received resolutions from Detroit City Council, the State of Michigan and the United States Senate, and community-service awards from the Underground Railroad Families Historical Foundation and Detroit Urban Center, the North American Black Historical Museum, and the Renaissance Detroit Mentor Foundation.

Death Milburn died at his home in Detroit on February 24, 1992, his 63rd birthday. He was survived by his wife Ada, sons David and Brent, grandson Alexander Lewis Milburn, and siblings Glynne Barnes, Dorothy White and Donald Milburn.

Legacy Western University and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry have recognized Milburn as the medical school's first Black graduate. The university has described his career in medicine and aerospace medicine as an example for later generations of physicians.