Dr. Patricia Era Bath was the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose

 

 

 Dr. Patricia Era Bath 

 (November 4, 1942 – May 30, 2019)

 

 Career

While at UCLA, Dr. Bath had wanted to pursue research, though being denied the grants and resources by the National Institutes of Health and the National Eye Institute. It was then she had decided to look further for the best laboratories in the world, to support her plans for innovation in the world of ophthalmology.^[17] 

 In 1986, Bath elected to take a sabbatical from clinical and administrative responsibilities and concentrate on research. She resigned her position as chair of ophthalmology and followed her research pursuits as visiting professor at centers of excellence in France, England and Germany. 

In France, she served as visiting professor at the Rothschilde Eye Institute of Paris with Director, Daniele Aron-Rosa. 

 In England, she served as visiting professor with Professor Emmony at the Loughborough Institute of Technology. 

 In Germany, she served as visiting professor at the University of Free Berlin and the laser medical center.