Medical school honors Henrietta Lacks’ legacy through diversity scholarship

In a significant move to champion diversity and pay homage to the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) renamed its VTC Dean's Council Diversity Excellence in Medicine Endowed Scholarship to the Henrietta Lacks Excellence in Medicine Scholarship.

The change underscores the school’s commitment to fostering inclusivity in the medical field and recognizing the enduring contributions of the Henrietta Lacks to science and medicine.

Lacks, a Black woman, was born in Roanoke in 1920. She was diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and died on Oct. 4, 1951, not knowing her cells were taken by her doctor for research. Until recent years, the story of her “immortal cells,” known as HeLa cells, and their significant role in supporting more than 70 years of worldwide medical discoveries was not widely known by the public. Lacks’ story has become a symbol of the untold contributions of marginalized communities to the field of medicine and an historic marker of an era in which patient consent and privacy were not part of the canon of medical ethics.

“It is fitting for us to honor Mrs. Lacks and her role in medicine by reducing the financial barriers to medical students who come from backgrounds that our underrepresented in medicine,” said Lee Learman, dean of the medical school. “Reflecting on her life and legacy fuels our dedication to help build a healthy and inclusive future in the place of her birth.”

On Oct. 4, as part of Virginia’s first official Lacks Day, the medical school joined with the City of Roanoke and partners at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Carilion Clinic in unveiling statues of Lacks. The school's statue stands at the entrance atrium to the school building with signage that recognizes her contributions to medicine.

In honor of February’s Black History Month, the school is again partnering with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Carilion Clinic as well as Radford University to host a free public showing of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" at the Grandin Theatre in Roanoke. The movie will be shown at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 with a Q&A session with health care leaders following. 

The decision to rename the scholarship in Lacks’ memory was met with widespread support from donors, alumni and supporters of the school. Frank Clark, a psychiatrist and former VTCSOM faculty member, applauded the change. 

“My wife, Dr. Jennifer Clark and I decided to establish the Diversity Excellence in Medicine Endowed Scholarship to help recruit and retain underrepresented students at VTCSOM. Students, especially those from underrepresented groups and low-income families, may defer their dream to becoming a physician due to heavy loan burden,” said Clark, who now practices in South Carolina and delivered the keynote speech at the school's 2023 White Coat Ceremony. “We cannot address the social determinants and political determinants of health that contribute to premature death for historically marginalized communities without a physician workforce that reflects the populations we care for.  I know this first-hand as Black physician who makes up 6 percent of United States physician workforce. Therefore, it is paramount that scholarships such as the Henrietta Lacks Scholarship exist.”

The newly renamed scholarship will help alleviate the financial burdens often associated with medical education and empower a more diverse cohort of students to contribute to the future of health care. The Dean’s Advisory Council for Advancement approved the new name at its winter meeting.

“The council was unanimous on changing the name to honor Mrs. Lacks’ memory. I hope it will spur people to ask who she was and to learn from her story,” said Jackie Wieland, chair of the council. “The scholarship is a positive step to support students who are underrepresented in medicine. Medical school is expensive, and our long-term goal is to make sure that no qualified student turns away from the medical profession due to affordability of education.”

Council member Mark Watts, who recently retired as a physician at Carilion Clinic Family Medicine in Vinton, said: “VTCSOM has meant a lot to the Roanoke community. Maintaining a diverse student population adds to the richness of the academic environment within our community. Structuring appropriate scholarship opportunities is the most important way the Dean’s Advisory Council can steer our school toward a more diverse and richer environment. Invoking Henrietta Lacks' name and legacy is a perfect fit for this important scholarship.”

School leaders hope to continue building awareness of Lacks’ legacy while decreasing the financial burdens that many students who are underrepresented in medicine face.

“I am ecstatic [about the new name]. Henrietta Lacks’ story is a sobering reminder for scientific communities to uphold the values of integrity, transparency, and advocacy,” Clark said. “Mrs. Lacks and her cells have made invaluable contributions to the field of medicine. I am hopeful that the name change will inspire future physicians to learn more about her and her family’s fight for justice, equity, and inclusion.”

To learn more about supporting scholarships at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, visit www.medicine.vtc.vt.edu/giving.