Berry, Leonidas H

Leonidas H. Berry was a an African-American gastroenterologist from Chicago, Ill. He served on the staffs of the Michael Reese Hospital, Provident Hospital, and the University of Illinois Medical School. He was an official of the National Medical Association. In addition to his long and distinguished medical career, Dr. Berry has been active in teaching, writing, and community public service. The latter has included work in civil rights, on the racial problems of public health, and with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

From the description of Leonidas H. Berry papers, 1907-1982. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 50124635

Dr. Berry was an internationally recognized authority on digestive diseases and endoscopy and lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood. He was the first American physician to use the fiber-optic, gastro-camera to view inside the digestive tract. He died Dec 4, 1995 at age 93.

From the description of Leonidas H. Berry papers, 1879-1994. (Chicago History Museum). WorldCat record id: 718737871

Leonidas H. Berry, born in 1902, is a gastroenterologist, medical pioneer, and son of Reverend Llewellyn L. Berry, the General Secretary of the Department of Home and Foreign Missions of the African Methodist Episcopal Church from 1933 until his death in 1954.

He is a 1924 graduate of Wilberforce University and completed his studies at Rush Medical College of the University of Chicago in 1929. During his career, he was affiliated with several hospitals in Chicago.

Berry was the first African American specialist in the field of digestive diseases and endoscopy. He developed one of the early gastroscopes known as the Eder-Berry gastrobiopsy scope. A member of the National Medical Association, Berry was president in 1965. He is the author of numerous articles and a book about his medical speciality, and was instrumental in establishing a health program for the A.M.E. Church.

Berry is also widely known for leadership in voluntary community health programs. Additionally, he wrote a family history, "I Wouldn't Take Nothin' for My Journey."

From the description of Leonidas H. Berry papers, 1932-1988. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 144652081