To celebrate Black History Month, Bucks County Community College, in partnership with the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, invites the public to a free, online discussion honoring Dr. Frank Erdman Boston at 3 p.m. Thursday, February 17.
Dr. Boston was a World War I veteran, born in Philadelphia and lived in Bucks County, who was one of the first African Americans to start both a hospital and ambulance corps. In 1934 he founded Elm Terrace Hospital, which later became North Penn Hospital and is now Jefferson-Lansdale Hospital. He also created the First Aide Emergency Squad in Lansdale, now known as the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, which still uses the logo that Dr. Boston helped design.
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, vice-chair of the Bucks County Commissioners, will lead the discussion. The panel includes Khoi Pham, an illustrator for Marvel and DC Comics, who worked with George Whitehair, lead researcher for the Dr. Boston story, and Heather Wilson Pham to create "Doc Boston Adventures,” a new comic about history’s forgotten hero.
The idea for the comic was to connect history with the younger generation, and "to show that real heroes are regular people, and it is their deeds that make them extraordinary” added Khoi. The comic is based on a true story when Dr. Boston and a team of volunteers sprang into action to save lives during the massive flood. The story was updated to reflect America today as Doc Boston leads a team of diverse volunteers. Learn more about the project at
www.docbostonadventures.com.
Other panelists are Ouli Sow, Boston Legacy Foundation board member, Bernard Griggs, Jr., Project and Diversity Officer for the County of Bucks, Kevin Antoine, Associate Vice President of Community and Government Relations and Chief Diversity Officer at Bucks County Community College.
The forum is cosponsored by Bucks County Community College, where diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral components of its goal to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality educational opportunities. To that end, forums such as this encourage a diverse, robust engagement among students, staff, and the community at large. To learn more, visit
bucks.edu/diversity.
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