Thomas Flake Sr., M.D.

Thomas Flake Sr. M.D, Class of 1951, was the first African American surgeon to be fully trained in Detroit through an approved surgical residency.

A two-time Golden Gloves boxing champion in the 1930s, he entered the University of Michigan, but after two years joined the armed forces after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He became a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen.

After the war, he returned to U-M and graduated near the top of his class in 1947 before entering what was then called the Wayne University College of Medicine. He was the first African American physician trained in General Surgery at Detroit Receiving Hospital, but because of his race he was denied staff privileges at the hospital.

In 1960, Dr. Flake, along with African-American physicians Addison Prince, M.D.; William Gibson, M.D.; and James Collins, M.D., fought to be, and were successful in gaining, appointment to the staff at Harper Hospital, thereby integrating the Detroit Medical Center medical ranks.

He spent his career in surgery in  Detroit, treating patients and mentoring young surgeons until his retirement in 1991. He died in 1995.

His son, Thomas Flake Jr., M.D., also graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1979.