Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) is deeply saddened to announce the death of Dr. M. Alfred Haynes, President Emeritus and former Dean. He passed away on February 8, 2016 after battling a long illness.
As a physician, epidemiologist, professor, and Dean, Dr. Haynes dedicated his career to reducing health disparities, especially in cancer mortality, and improving healthcare systems in the U.S. and around the world. Dr. Haynes, one of the first black faculty members at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, helped to establish racial integration policies for that University. In 2005, that institution honored him with a lifetime membership to The Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. After the Watts Revolt in 1965, Dr. Haynes accepted the challenge of helping establish the Charles Drew Postgraduate Medical School to increase healthcare professions training in Watts and South Los Angeles. In 1969, Dr. Haynes was the first CDU department chair appointed as the Chief of Community & Preventive Medicine. Ten years later, he was inaugurated as Dean and became Professor Emeritus.
“Dr. Haynes has left an incredible legacy of working toward equitable healthcare that will live on inside and outside the walls of CDU,” said Dr. David M. Carlisle, President of the University. “He led a noble life as a major architect of social justice for black healthcare professionals, and was wholly devoted to improving care for minority and medically underserved communities. We will miss his tireless leadership, deep knowledge, and generous spirit.”
“My uncle had a deep commitment to CDU and the values it stands for—compassion and equity,” said nephew, Dr. Vincent Haynes. “I will be forever grateful that he inspired me to become a pediatrician, a profession that gives back to the community.”
In his earlier career, Dr. Haynes worked as a medical officer in the U.S. Public Health Service and the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. After joining the International Health Department at Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1964, Dr. Haynes went to India on an assignment in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development. Tasked with improving the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the Medical College in Trivandrum, Kerala, Haynes created a system to place medical interns in rural primary health units for more meaningful field experiences. He also conducted research on background radiation and family planning services.
Returning to Johns Hopkins in 1966, Dr. Haynes applied the lessons he learned to create a program for teachers of community medicine and to develop a comprehensive health planning program. International students used principles learned in these programs to enhance healthcare around the world. In addition, Haynes published studies regarding opportunities for black healthcare professionals and contributed to the Hunger USA study. His research into racial health disparities led to the creation of the National Medical Association Foundation whose mission was to address the health needs of inner city residents and Dr. Haynes became the Foundation’s first director.
Dr. Haynes also became Founding Director of the Drew-Meharry-Morehouse Consortium Cancer Center. As a member of the Institute of Medicine Dr. Haynes co-authored The Unequal Burden of Cancer: An Assessment of NIH Research and Programs for Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved which was published in 1999.
Dr. Haynes served on a number of national governmental committees for various agencies, including the National Center for Health Statistics; the Agency for International Development; the President’s Committee on Health Education; the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioengineering Cluster of the President’s Panel of Biomedical Research; and others. Dr. Haynes also chaired the Board of Scientific Counselors of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control of the National Cancer Institute and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Fogarty International Center. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society, and Past-President of the American College of Preventive Medicine.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. in the chapel at Glendale City Church in Glendale, California. For additional details or to leave comments, please visit the Thomas Miller Mortuary’s website at www.thomasmillermortuary.com. The Haynes Family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the Dr. M. Alfred Haynes Endowed Scholarship Fund at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
