Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen: The Sky Was Not the Limit

What: The Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen: The Sky Was Not the Limit
When: Friday, Feb. 25, Noon-1 p.m.
Where: Health Sciences Education Building, 435 N 5th Street, Room C202, Phoenix Biomedical Campus or via Zoom.

Reporters and editors: Media are invited. To arrange interviews or attend please contact Beth Smith, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, at 812-325-4002.

In honor of Black History Month, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. will host a presentation featuring the legacy of the famous Tuskegee Airmen from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25.

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Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Carr, PhD, USAF Retired, whose father served in World War II as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, will be the keynote speaker.

In addition, Colonel Miguel Pirela-Cruz, MD, ARAC, USAF, Retired, an upper extremity orthopedic surgeon with Chandler Regional Medical Center, will speak on the topic of racism in health care.

Organized medicine has a history of racism in its treatment of persons of color, which has led to a distrust or fear of doctors. As a result, some people of color do not seek medical care.

Individuals from African American, Hispanic and Native American heritage remain underrepresented in medicine. We need more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals of color to serve Arizona’s communities.

The UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix shares a commitment to address systemic racism in medicine and to support talented students who are underrepresented in medicine.  

The Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen: The Sky Was Not the Limit will be held at the Health Sciences Education Building, 435 N. 5th Street, Room C202, Phoenix Biomedical Campus. Validated parking will be provided at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus Garage at 555 E. Fillmore Street. Map (PDF); Parking Information. The event will also be available for online viewing via Zoom. Register on Eventbrite.

The Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., is dedicated to "Reaching Our Youth, Ensuring Our Future." Members engage with community groups for the purpose of reaching minority youth, including African American, Hispanic and Native American individuals. Its goal is to encourage youth to carry forward the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen’s accomplishments in education, military aviation and self-determination.

Members of the media will be able to:

• Interact with a descendant of the Tuskegee Airmen.
• Link the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen with present-day challenges.
• Conduct interviews with:
  • Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Carr, PhD, USAF Retired
  • Colonel Miguel Pirela-Cruz, MD, USAF Retired
  • Guy Reed, MD, MS, dean, College of Medicine – Phoenix
  • Shannon Alsobrooks, Class of 2025 MD candidate and event organizer.