Richard Allen Williams

Richard Allen Williams (born 1936) is an American physician who is founder of the Association of Black Cardiologists. He previously served as the President of the National Medical Association.

Early life and education Williams was born in Wilmington, Delaware, to a family of eight children. He was educated in a segregated community, and attended an all-Black school until 12th grade. He attended Howard High School of Technology, where he graduated top of his class. Williams was awarded a full scholarship to attend Harvard University, which he graduated cum laude. He was the first African American from Delaware to join Harvard, and the first cohort of students to live in segregated dormitories. He completed a cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. From his teen years, Williams has been an accomplished jazz trumpeter.

Research and career Williams joined the Harvard Medical School as an instructor in cardiology. While there, he established a Central Recruitment Council for hospitals in Boston. Williams moved to California, where he helped to open the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in 1972. He worked with David Satcher to establish the King-Drew Sickle Cell Center, and was appointed the Director. Williams moved to West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, where he was made Chief of the Heart Station. He was the first Black physician to become Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

In 1974, Williams founded the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), and served as President for ten years. The ABC established the Richard Allen Williams Scholarship in 1980, which provides financial support to Black medical students. He also launched the Minority Health Institute, which looks to take on racism in healthcare and improve the health of minorities. 2004: Harvard Medical School Lifetime Achievement Award 2009: National Minority Quality Forum Achievement Award 2017: Elected President of the National Medical Association 2018: American College of Cardiology Pioneering African American Physician 2018: UCLA Black Alumni Association Jackie Robinson Award 2019: American Medical Association Testimonial Dinner

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