Scantlebury-Brief Bio

Dr. Velma Scantleburyis a Barbadian-born American transplant surgeon. She was the first African American female transplant surgeon of the United States.

Dr. Scantlebury has been awarded the Woman of Spirit Award for inspiring others and the "Gift of Life Award" from the National Kidney Foundation. In addition to recognition by the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association, she received the Order of Barbados Gold Crown of Merit, for her efforts to educate minorities about organ transplant. She has published many peer-reviewed papers and the recent author of “Beyond Every Wall – Becoming the First Black Female Transplant Surgeon.”

She completed her fellowship in multi-organ transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. After 15 years, she moved to  the University of South Alabama (USA) as Professor of Surgery and  Director of the USA's Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Centre . She relocated to Delaware in 2008 to join the Christiana Care Health System. In 2020, Dr. Scantlebury retired from ChristiansCare to pursue an academic career and is currently a Professor of Surgery at Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Scantlebury has been passionate about educating minority communities regarding the need for more organ donors and the rising number of patients in need of transplantation. As a board member of National MOTTEP (Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Educational Program), she continues to promote education regarding the higher incidence of renal failure and the need for dialysis within the African American community.

She has also served on the Board of Donate Life America, the Medical Advisory Board of the Gift of Life, in Philadelphia PA., and current serves on the NKF Health Equity Task Force, as well as the ASTS Boldly Against Racism Task Force.