David D. Potter, PhD, HMS Faculty

Former Robert Winthrop Professor of Neurobiology, Emeritus

A strong advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity, Dr. Potter was a crucial part of the group who petitioned for an affirmative action program at Harvard Medical School following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Funding his own travel, Dr. Potter recruited minority student applicants from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1968.

Dr. Potter and Dr. Edwin Furshpan led the Native American High School Summer Program, which brought high school students to Harvard Medical School for three weeks to attend lectures; participate in small-group, case-based learning sessions; and present a final project.

Dr. Potter’s papers document his dedication to the field and contain records from his teaching, mentoring, recruitment efforts and more. The papers are available by request at the Potter Finding Aid.

The founding faculty members in the Department of Neurobiology at HMS, clockwise from left: David Potter, Ed Furshpan, Steve Kuffler, David Hubel, Torsten Wiesel, and Ed Kravitz. Date of photograph and photographer unknown. Photo credits: https://countway.harvard.edu/news/david-dickinson-potter-papers-open-research

The founding faculty members in the Department of  Clockwise from left: David Potter, Ed Furshpan, David Hubel, Torsten Wiesel, and Ed Kravitz. Date of photograph and photographer unknown. Photo credits: https://countway.harvard.edu/news/david-dickinson-potter-papers-open-research

Clockwise from left: David Potter, David Hubel, Torsten Wiesel, Ed Furshpan, and Ed Kravitz. Taken in 2016 at the Department of Neurobiology’s 50th Anniversary Reunion. Photographer unknown. Photo credits: https://countway.harvard.edu/news/david-dickinson-potter-papers-open-research