Dr. Marjorie Cates

Following her time at Sumner High School, Marjorie Cates was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Kansas Medical School. Following her sister’s death from cancer at a very young age, Dr. Cates went on to teach hematology at Howard University where she also served as the Associate Director of the University's Center for Sickle Cell Disease. In 2018, Dr. Cates' legacy was honored by the donation of academic society in her name, The Cates Society.

Marjorie Cates was born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1930. Since Marjorie grew up in Kansas City Kansas, she graduated from Sumner High School in 1948 and Sumner encouraged Marjorie's passion and pursuit for knowledge. Following High School, Cates went off to college in to earn a degree in economics and medical technology from Kansas State University. After earning her bachelor's degree, Cates then became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1958. Dr. Marjorie's passion for learning merged into a medical career pretty naturally, as from an early age Marjorie was inspired to fight diseases after suffering the loss of her sister to cancer.

Dr. Cates was a pioneer in medicine, focusing on hematology and sickle cell disease. She taught hematology at Howard University and dedicated her time serving as associate director of its Center for Sickle Cell Disease. Cates went on to become the chief medical officer at D.C. Health Department North Area Health Center, where she published “Sickle Cell Disease, a Bibliography,” in order to spread awareness about the disease.

Dr. Marjorie Cates was briefly married to Clifford E. Ransome, and prior to their divorce the pair had one daughter named Lauren.

In 2018, the University of Kansas dedicated The Cates Society in her honor for recognition of her contributions to the medical field. Dr. Marjorie's daughter was there to represent her mother in the grand opening of the Cates Society, and fondly remembers her mother has an inspiring and caring mother and physician (Smith, 2018). Unfortunately, Dr. Marjorie died at age 61 from cancer

Accessed June 8th 2022. https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-medical-center-honors-first-Black-woman-graduate/article_42c29814-ad3e-11e8-9778-e3fe3b6b6427.html.

"Adolph Rothman, Army Intelligence Specialist, Dies." Washington Post March 7th 1991. Accessed July 3rd 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1991/07/03/adolph-rothman-army-intelligence-specialist-dies/1b4b4fdb-4e3f-42f8-ad2b-2895894ce97c/.

Marjorie Cates Time , Time Graphics. Accessed June 8th 2022. https://time.graphics/event/4248788.

Smith, Kalli Jo . KU Medical Center honors first Black woman graduate, KU Medical Center. August 31st 2018.