Blacks@Dartmouth 1775 to 1960

Charles K. Francis, M.D., MACP, FACC, is professor of medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (UMDNJ) and director of cardiovascular research at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Dr. Francis is the former director of the Center on Health Disparities and Rudin Scholar in Urban Health of the New York Academy of Medicine. In addition to his interest in racial and ethnic health disparities, medical education, and health services research, he has contributed to the literature in the areas of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease, mitral valve insufficiency, health and public policy, and health care for minorities.

Dr. Francis has served as president of the American College of Physicians, president of the Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, president of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate, Los Angeles County Division, and the American Heart Association, Connecticut Affiliate and as chair of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association. He has also served on the National Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, the Board of Directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the Board of Directors of the New York Academy of Medicine, as past chair of the Board of the Association of Black Cardiologists, and on the Board of Governors of the Clinical Center at NIH.

Dr. Francis is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and Master of the American College of Physicians. He is the recipient of the Louis B. Russell Memorial Award presented by the American Heart Association, the Daniel D. Savage, M.D. Memorial Award presented by the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Distinguished Alumni Faculty Award, Cardiology Division, Yale University School of Medicine and the Jefferson Alumni Achievement Award, Jefferson Medical College. He is an Institute of Medicine member. Dr. Francis received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.