Pearl McBroom

Fletcher Pearl Riley McBroom (March 16, 1926 – March 19, 2004) was an American cardiologist. She was instrumental to the development of cardiovascular treatment and preventative medicine. McBroom was the first female doctor to be accepted to the UCLA Medical Center. She was also the first African-American doctor to attend UCLA Medical Center.

Early life and education She earned her B.A. at University of Chicago in 1946 and B.S. from Columbia University in 1949. In 1953 she earned her M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Career McBroom interned at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City in 1954–55. She completed her residency at Columbia University Research Wing and UCLA Medical Center in 1955-57 (the first woman of any race to complete graduate studies in medicine there), and went on to her Fellowship in Cardiology at University of Southern California, 1957–58.