Genius Unbroken: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew

Genius Unbroken is the first comprehensive biography to bring the extraordinary life of Dr. Charles Drew, the ‘Father of the Blood Bank,’ into focus. Born into Washington D.C.’s vibrant African American community at the turn of the twentieth century, Drew rose on the strength of extraordinary physical and intellectual talents to become a groundbreaking medical research scientist. He pioneered methods of blood and plasma storage, leading to the establishment of America’s first large-scale blood bank—an innovation that continues to save lives around the world. A gifted surgeon and educator, Dr. Drew also became an eloquent and powerful advocate of civil rights, especially equal health care, for African Americans. Tragically, while still a young man, he lost his life while travelling to a medical conference that provided free care to indigent patients.

Researched and developed through an intimate collaboration with Dr. Drew’s daughter, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Miller encapsulates the life of Dr. Drew in a profound exploration of one man’s challenge to institutional barriers in creating lasting change. Readers will find in Genius Unbroken the story of Dr. Drew’s life-saving work, while his story offers an enduring lesson in resilience, intellectual triumph, and the transformative power of unwavering determination.