Dr. Walter M. Booker, Sr. (1907–1988), a pioneering biologist, physiologist, and pharmacologist, was a founding member of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC). Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Booker earned degrees from Morehouse College, the University of Iowa, and the University of Chicago. During his career, he conducted influential research on catecholamines and cardiovascular health, authoring over 100 scientific papers. He joined Howard University’s faculty in 1943, eventually leading its Department of Pharmacology for two decades. Honoring his legacy, ABC established the Dr. Walter M. Booker, Sr. Memorial Symposium and the Walter M. Booker, Sr. Health Promotions Award to celebrate his commitment to health equity and recognize impactful programs in cardiovascular disease prevention for African American communities.

Dr. Elijah B. Saunders (1934–2015), a pioneering cardiologist from Baltimore, Maryland, was among the founding members of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC). A graduate of Morgan State University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he was the first African American resident in internal medicine at the University of Maryland, helping to end segregated hospital wards. Dr. Saunders opened a private practice in West Baltimore and became Maryland’s first Black cardiologist in 1965, later joining the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a professor. Known globally for his expertise on hypertension in Black communities, he co-authored Hypertension and Blacks, a key resource on high blood pressure treatment. Dr. Saunders’ innovative health programs, including hypertension control centers in churches and barbershops, transformed community health outreach.