Myra Adele Logan (1908–1977) was an African American physician, surgeon, and anatomist. She was the first woman to perform open heart surgery. Throughout her life, Myra was dedicated to the advancements of health care and service to her community. She is pictured in the photo below (black dress) with Louis T. Wright and colleagues at patient bedside, Harlem Hospital, New York, N.Y.

To me, this image represents her intense focus, valuable insight, and commitment to stay involved and be a voice when it matters most. I honor Myra Adele Logan as a Lady of Influence for her pioneering contributions to modern medicine and the trailblazing example she is to girls and women who desire to follow in her footsteps.

From left to right: Dr. Lyndon M. Hill, Dr. Louis T. Wright, Dr. Myra Logan, Dr. Aaron Prigot, unidentified African American woman patient, and unidentified hospital employee.

Image by Joe Covello (for Black Star), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Read more about the extraordinary life & career of Myra Adele Logan here on Women You Should Know.