Merge pull request #1670 from lparsons/bhm-2025-charles-r-drew

Added Charles R Drew post

Author: peterfpeterson

_posts/2025-01-31-black-history-month.md

@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ talk about the person and tie their work and life to the RSE movement.
   painstaking mathematical modeling and early computer programming, she helped
   define the precise shape of the Earth — a crucial advancement in the
   development of satellite geodesy.
-* **Charles R. Drew** - read about his pioneering work in blood banking,
-  transfusion medicine, and medical informatics.
+* [**Charles R. Drew**](/2025-02-25-black-history-spotlight-charles-r-drew) \-
+  read about his pioneering work in blood banking, transfusion medicine, and
+  medical informatics.
 
-In addition, we’re excited to host a **Zoom discussion on Thursday, February
+In addition, we're excited to host a **Zoom discussion on Thursday, February
 20th at noon PT / 3 PM ET**. [@Cordero
 Core](https://usrse.slack.com/team/U0523JRUDE3) shared one of his favorite
 YouTube channels with us from Garrison Hayes. We invite you to watch the three

_posts/2025-02-25-black-history-spotlight-charles-r-drew.md

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Charles R. Drew, Blood Banking, and the Research Software Engineering Behind Medical Informatics"
+tags: [dei, black-history]
+author: Cordero Core
+---
+
+US-RSE's [DEI working group (DEI-WG)](https://us-rse.org/wg/dei/) is proud to
+help US-RSE celebrate and participate in Black History Month. Each week during
+Black History Month, the US-RSE will spotlight Black/African Americans who have
+been involved in computing, science, engineering, and/or math, and have
+inspired our members through their accomplishments in their careers and their
+personal stories.
+
+[*Originally posted on
+Medium*](https://medium.com/@cdcore/charles-r-drew-blood-banking-and-the-research-software-engineering-behind-medical-informatics-28f51fdf0f1e)
+
+![Photo of Charles R. Drew]({{ site.baseurl
+}}/assets/img/post-2025-02-25/0_Wbe4dF_qMfsMZAGw.jpg "Photo of Charles R.
+Drew"){: style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 600px;" }
+
+In the 1940s, **Dr. Charles R. Drew** revolutionized modern medicine with his
+pioneering work in **blood banking and transfusion medicine**. His research on
+**plasma preservation and large-scale blood storage** laid the foundation for
+the blood donation systems we rely on today. More than a scientific
+breakthrough, Drew's work was a testament to **systems thinking, data
+management, and logistical precision**—the same principles that underpin modern
+**medical informatics** and the infrastructure of healthcare today.  
+
+Just as Drew developed methods to **scale the storage and distribution of
+blood**, research software engineers (**RSEs**) today build **scalable software
+systems for medical data management**. Whether working on **electronic health
+records (EHRs), blood tracking systems, or computational models in medicine**,
+RSEs play a critical role in ensuring that **data flows seamlessly, securely,
+and accurately**—just as Drew ensured that blood could move efficiently from
+donor to patient.  
+
+His legacy is more than just medical—it is computational, logistical, and
+deeply human.  
+
+---
+
+## **From Blood to Data: The Need for Scalable Infrastructure**  
+
+Dr. Drew's research came at a time when **blood transfusions were lifesaving
+but inefficient**. Prior to his innovations, there was no standardized system
+for collecting, preserving, and distributing blood on a large scale. His
+    meticulous work led to the creation of **plasma separation and storage
+    techniques**, allowing for **longer shelf life and broader
+    distribution**—critical for saving lives during World War II.  
+
+![Image of Charles R. Drew in a lab coat next to a photo of many blood storage
+bags in a blood bank.]({{ site.baseurl
+}}/assets/img/post-2025-02-25/0_DZ72MWYJIu5j7fHz.jpg "Charles R. Drew made
+significant pioneered modern day blood bank storage and standardization.")
+{:style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 600px;" }
+
+The challenge Drew tackled—**scaling a life-saving resource across large
+populations**—is one that **research software engineers** continue to solve
+today. In modern healthcare, **data** is as critical as blood, and managing it
+requires similarly robust **logistical and computational infrastructure**.  
+
+- **Blood Banking & Data Storage:** Just as Drew developed **storage protocols
+  for blood**, RSEs develop **secure, scalable data storage solutions for
+      patient records and medical research**.  
+- **Efficient Distribution & Data Pipelines:** Drew optimized **the movement of
+  blood across hospitals and battlefields**—RSEs design **data pipelines that
+  allow hospitals, researchers, and clinics to share critical patient
+  information** in real-time.  
+- **Standardization & Interoperability:** Drew's standardized plasma storage
+  methods are mirrored in **modern medical informatics, where RSEs work to
+  ensure that health data formats (HL7, FHIR, etc.) are interoperable across
+  systems**.  
+
+Like Drew's blood banks, today's **medical informatics systems must be
+scalable, reliable, and life-saving**.  
+
+---
+
+## **Building the Digital Blood Bank: Research Software Engineering in Medicine**  
+
+Imagine a hospital system without **electronic health records (EHRs)** or
+**blood donation databases**. Without RSEs, the **complex software
+infrastructure** behind modern medicine would not function.  
+
+- **Blood Donation Software:** RSEs build and maintain systems that track
+  **donors, blood type compatibility, storage conditions, and distribution
+  needs** across vast healthcare networks.  
+- **Medical Informatics & Machine Learning:** AI-driven models help predict
+  **blood shortages, optimize donation schedules, and detect anomalies in
+  transfusion data**—all powered by research software.  
+- **Real-Time Data Sharing:** Systems like **FHIR (Fast Healthcare
+  Interoperability Resources)** enable hospitals and blood banks to share data
+  securely, ensuring **faster response times and better patient outcomes**.  
+
+Dr. Drew laid the groundwork for **scalable blood management**; today, RSEs
+extend that legacy by ensuring that **medical software scales efficiently,
+remains interoperable, and serves all populations equitably**.  
+
+---
+
+## **Data, Ethics, and the Fight for Equity**  
+
+Dr. Drew's work was not just scientific—it was deeply political. During World
+War II, he **opposed the segregation of blood donations by race**, challenging
+racist policies that had **no scientific basis** but persisted due to
+structural discrimination. His advocacy for **equitable healthcare access**
+remains just as relevant today.  
+
+![Photo of Charles R. Drew University Medicine and Science staff in front of a
+mural of Martin Luther King Jr.]({{ site.baseurl
+}}/assets/img/post-2025-02-25/0_-tpZaUbjb9-bF42T.jpg "Charles R. Drew
+University of Medicine & Science"){: style="display: block; margin: auto;
+max-width: 600px;" }
+
+In research software engineering, we face **similar ethical challenges**:  
+
+- **Bias in Medical AI:** Just as Drew fought against racial segregation in
+  blood banking, RSEs today must address **bias in healthcare data models**,
+  ensuring that **AI-driven diagnostics do not reinforce racial disparities**.  
+- **Data Security & Patient Rights:** Drew fought for **equitable access to
+  life-saving blood**—today, RSEs work to ensure that **healthcare data remains
+  secure, private, and ethically managed**, particularly for marginalized
+  communities.  
+- **Open Science & Accessibility:** The principles of **open-source medical
+  informatics** align with Drew's vision of **universal access to life-saving
+  resources**. Just as blood banks were designed for **public good**, modern
+  research software should strive for **openness, accessibility, and
+  fairness**.  
+
+His fight for **scientific integrity and racial justice in medicine** is echoed
+in today's discussions about **algorithmic bias, data transparency, and ethical
+AI in healthcare**.  
+
+---
+
+## **The Path Forward: Recognizing Computational Contributions in Healthcare**  
+
+Dr. Charles Drew was a scientist, an innovator, and a systems thinker. His work
+transcended medicine—it was about **infrastructure, scalability, and ensuring
+life-saving resources were accessible to all**.  
+
+For research software engineers, his story is a **reminder that our work is not
+just technical—it is deeply human**. The software we build in **medical
+informatics, epidemiology, and health data management** directly impacts lives,
+just as Drew's innovations in blood banking did.  
+
+As we honor his legacy, we must also push for **greater recognition of RSEs in
+medical research**. Just as blood banks were once invisible until Drew's work
+brought them into public consciousness, **research software is often unseen—but
+it is essential**.  
+
+It is time to **recognize, credit, and support the engineers who build the
+digital infrastructure of modern medicine**.  
+
+---
+
+## **Join the Conversation**  
+
+Dr. Charles Drew's work in blood banking revolutionized medicine. Today,
+**research software engineers** continue his legacy by building the
+**computational infrastructure that powers modern healthcare**.  
+
+Throughout **Black History Month**, we will continue highlighting the
+contributions of Black scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who have
+shaped **computational science and medical research**.  
+
+Next, we'll explore Brian Fox's creation of **Bash (the Bourne Again Shell)**
+and how it's foundational to open-source computing, automation, and
+scripting - core aspects of research software engineering.  
+
+**How can we ensure that research software engineers in healthcare are valued
+and recognized?** Share your thoughts, follow along on Medium, and join the
+**US-RSE community** to continue the conversation.  
+
+Share your thoughts, follow along on [Medium](https://medium.com/@cdcore), and
+[join the **US-RSE community**]({{baseurl}}/join) to continue the conversation.