Herbert Avery

Herbert Basil Avery (October 6, 1933 – March 25, 2012) was an American obstetrician-gynecologist, healthcare policy advisor, and community health advocate. Based in Los Angeles, California, Avery played a role in shaping early national health policy through his contributions to the development of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) during the Nixon administration. He was also recognized for his commitment to expanding access to women's healthcare, particularly in underserved Black communities in Southern California.

Early life and education

Avery was born in Appling, Georgia, in 1933, and moved to Watts, Los Angeles, with his family around 1940, following the death of his mother during childbirth. He attended Hooper Avenue Elementary, Carver Junior High, and Jefferson High School.

He began his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), before transferring to Howard University College of Medicine. He was accepted after an impromptu meeting with the dean during a visit to Washington, D.C. Avery graduated with honors in 1961, earning membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and receiving awards in multiple medical disciplines. He also completed a fellowship in tropical medicine in Haiti and the West Indies during his medical training.

Medical career

Following his residency at Los Angeles County General Hospital, Avery opened a private OB-GYN practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He also served as assistant OB-GYN director at John Wesley Hospital. He continued volunteering at LA County General and maintained an active medical practice for over two decades.

Public health and policy work

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Avery was invited to serve as a consultant to the Nixon administration on the development of national health maintenance policy. He was among the early medical voices advising on what would become the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973. He also helped co-found the Watts Extended Health Center and was active in the early planning of King/Drew Medical Center. Avery served on the founding board of the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation and was known for his advocacy in South Los Angeles.

LAPD incident and legal case

In the late 1970s, Avery was injured during an altercation with LAPD officers while assisting his son during a traffic stop. He was placed in a chokehold and sustained permanent injuries that affected his surgical ability.

He filed a civil rights lawsuit and was represented by Johnnie Cochran. A jury awarded Avery $1.3 million in damages, but the settlement was later reduced on appeal.

Personal life

Avery was married to Mauna Loa Avery for 44 years and had six children and nine grandchildren. He maintained lifelong friendships in the community and was a member of a social group known as the Eastside Boys.

Legacy

Avery died on March 25, 2012. He is remembered for his contributions to women’s health, community-based medicine, and his early role in national health policy.

References

This article "Herbert Avery" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Herbert Avery. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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