NAME: Patricia Bath

BORN: November 4, 1942

Jobs: Doctor, Inventor

KEY FACTS: Patricia Bath was raised in New York and was always interested in science. She qualified with a medical degree and then trained in ophthalmology, becoming the first female member of staff at UCLA’s ophthalmology department. She discovered that African Americans were twice as likely to suffer from blindness than other patients. This inspired her to invent the ‘Laserphaco Probe’ in 1986 which improved treatment for cataract patients.

ACHIEVEMENTS: She was the first African American woman to train in ophthalmology (medical and surgical eye problems). She was the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent. This was in 1986 for her invention for cataract treatment.