Adoniram Van Bowen, MD, Class of 1976 (First American Indian Doctor to Graduate from HMS)

Graduated Harvard Medical School Class of 1976

Adoniram Van Bowen, who went by Don, was a member of the Creek tribe from rural Oklahoma. He is known as the first American Indian to graduate from Harvard Medical School. Born in 1944, Bowen graduated from high school in Seminole, Oklahoma. He was raised in poverty by his mother, and before attending the University of Oklahoma, worked full-time to save money to be able to attend. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology in 1970, and decided between pursuing law and medicine because he felt both professions were needed within the Creek community. He attended a pre-matriculation program for one year at Harvard College, and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1976. He served as President of the Association of American Indian Physicians from 1983 to 1984. He died unexpectedly at age 40 on December 27, 1984.

To learn more about Dr. Bowen, see “Don Bowen: Bridging the Gap Between Two Nations”: https://archive.org/details/harvardmedical59harv/page/40.

Year
1976
Faculty Member
Off
School Timeline
HMS
Interview
Off