Dr. Levi Watkins Jr.

Last week, Tennessee State University was honored for the 34Th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium which was set for March 26-30. TSU alumnus and medical pioneer Levi Watkins Jr., M.D., was featured as the keynote speaker officially opening the Symposium.

He was also educated at Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He then became the first African-American to be admitted to and graduate from Vanderbilt's School of Medicine. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Watkins went onto become the first black chief resident in cardiac surgery at the Johns Hopkins university and Hospital as well. Dr. Watkins performed the world’s first human implantation of the automatic implantable defibrillator in February 1980 shocking the heart back to life.

Dr. Levi Watkins is a pioneer in many respects. He’s a powerful man who pledged Alpha phi Alpha at Tennessee State University with the chapter Beta Omicron. Dr. Watkins #9 was apart of Ambassadors 15 Fall 1963 line while here at Tennessee State University before he went on to graduate in 1966. I see Dr.Watkins as an ordinary man who stands tall and do extraordinary things. Alpha man Levi Watkins, MD: First African American to hold the position of Associate Dean for the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University and is still contributing to his field in today's society.