LaSalle D. Leffall Jr.

LaSalle Doheny Leffall Jr. was born on May 22, 1930, in Tallahassee, Florida, and raised in nearby Quincy, Florida, during the era of segregation. His parents, LaSalle D. Leffall Sr. and Lula Jourdan Leffall, were both educators and emphasized the value of academic excellence and perseverance despite racial barriers.^[6] His father was a professor of agriculture at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College (FAMU), and his mother was also a teacher.^[1][6]

Leffall graduated from Dr. Wallace S. Stevens High School in 1945 at age 15,^[1] and earned a B.S. degree in biology, summa cum laude, from Florida A&M University in 1948.^[1] He received his M.D. from the Howard University College of Medicine in 1952. Initially rejected from admission, Leffall was accepted after FAMU President William H. Gray personally intervened on his behalf. He graduated first in his class.^[6][1] His mentors included Charles R. Drew, Burke Syphax, W. Montague Cobb, and Jack E. White.^[7][8]

He completed his internship at Homer G. Phillips Hospital ^[9] in St. Louis, followed by surgical training as an assistant resident in surgery at Freedmen's Hospital^[10] (1953–1954), assistant resident at D.C. General Hospital (1954–1955), and chief resident at Freedmen’s (1956–1957). Leffall then became one of the first Black fellows in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he trained from 1957 to 1959 under the mentorship of Dr. Jack E. White.^[1][6]

While attending Howard, he met Ruth McWilliams, who was struck by his polite demeanor, intelligence, kindness toward others, and strong dedication to his studies. They married in 1956 and later had a son, LaSalle “Donney” Leffall III.^[6]

In 1960, Leffall entered the United States Army Medical Corps with the rank of Captain, M.C.. He was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston ^[11] in Texas before being assigned as chief of general surgery at the U.S. Army Hospital in Munich, Germany.^[12] He completed two years of active duty and was later honorably discharged with the rank of Major.^[1]

During his Army service, Leffall encountered racial segregation despite holding an officer’s commission. He recalled that, while stationed at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas, he and three White colleagues went to a local movie theater.^[11] Although his White colleagues were allowed to enter, Leffall was denied admission solely because of his race. In a show of solidarity, his colleagues chose to leave with him. Leffall later described the incident as one of the most painful experiences of his life, underscoring the irony of facing racial discrimination at home while preparing to serve his country abroad.^[11]

Below are the official insignia representing his military rank and medical branch of service:

Insignia	Description
	Major (O-4), United States Army
	Branch Insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps

After completing his surgical oncology fellowship and fulfilling his Army commitment, Leffall joined the faculty of the Howard University College of Medicine in 1962.^[1] In 1970, he became one of the youngest chairs—and the first African American—to lead the Department of Surgery at Howard.^[1] In 1992, he was appointed the first Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, named in honor of the pioneering surgeon and medical innovator.^[10]

Throughout his more than five decades at Howard, Leffall was a dedicated educator and mentor, teaching approximately 6,000 medical students^[13] and training nearly 300 general surgery residents.^[14][1]

Leffall also made landmark contributions to national medical leadership. In 1978, he became the first African American elected president of the American Cancer Society.^[15] During his tenure, he launched the organization’s first national cancer disparities initiative, which addressed the rising cancer burden among African Americans and became a national model for equity in cancer care.^[16][5]

He went on to become the first Black president of the American College of Surgeons in 1995,^[17] and also led the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Society of Surgical Chairmen—breaking racial barriers and paving the way for underrepresented groups in surgical leadership.^[7]

In public health advocacy, Leffall served as board chair of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2011 to 2012,^[18] where he championed efforts to improve outreach, screening, and treatment access in minority communities.^[19]

Appointed by President George W. Bush and reappointed by President Barack Obama,^[20] Leffall chaired the President’s Cancer Panel from 2002 to 2011, advising the White House on cancer policy, disparities, and national prevention strategies.^[21]

In this role, he testified before Congress and federal agencies to advocate for stronger national cancer control policies. Key appearances included:

• Addressing the House Subcommittee on Health in 2004 to present the President’s Cancer Panel Annual Report on barriers in the National Cancer Program.^[22]

• Participating in the 2007 congressional forum, Reducing Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap, where he highlighted inequities in cancer outcomes and called for targeted interventions.^[23]

• Providing expert testimony to the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on federal cancer control programs and minority health outcomes in 2003.^[23]

Leffall’s reputation extended globally through his affiliations with international medical bodies, including the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the German Surgical Society, the International Society of Surgery, the West African College of Surgeons, and the College of Surgeons of South Africa.^[6]

Throughout his career, LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. received 14 honorary degrees from institutions including Georgetown University, Amherst College, Meharry Medical College, and Princeton University.^[5] He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, joining the highest ranks of the U.S. medical and scientific community.^[24]

Among his many honors, Leffall received the prestigious Candace Award for Science in 1983 from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.^[25] In 1984, the American Cancer Society awarded him its Distinguished Service Award,^[4] one of the organization's highest honors, recognizing his exemplary leadership and long-standing commitment to cancer prevention and education.^[4]

He was also the first recipient of the Society of Surgical Oncology’s Heritage Award in 2001, recognizing his trailblazing role in cancer surgery and mentorship.^[26]

In 1995, Leffall’s former students and colleagues established the LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. Surgical Society at the Howard University College of Medicine to honor his impact as a mentor and educator. His enduring legacy also inspired the creation of the biennial LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. Cancer Prevention and Control Award, presented jointly by MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Intercultural Cancer Council.^[21]

Beyond his clinical and policy work, Leffall held interim senior administrative positions at Howard, including as interim senior vice president and provost,^[14] while continuing to teach and mentor students until his death in 2019.^[27]

In a 1979 interview ^[28] with The Washington Post, Dr. LaSalle Leffall reflected on the emotional cost of taking principled stands, referencing the controversy surrounding Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War based on religious and racial beliefs. Leffall, who had by then built a respected medical career, acknowledged the challenge of maintaining high standards while breaking new ground as a Black physician. He emphasized that being among the first came with pressure to excel, as he felt he could not afford to fall short or set a poor example for those who would ^[6] follow.

Mentorship played a consistent role in Leffall’s career. Dr. Wendy Greene, who trained at Howard University, recalled his reflections ^[6] on what he called the “Grace Notes” of life—small but meaningful gestures that could enhance doctor–patient relationships. She noted that he emphasized the importance of listening not only to patients’ words, but also to the concerns behind them.^[6]

Leffall’s professional approach emphasized discipline, attentiveness, and sustained involvement in patient care. His contributions focused on practice and teaching rather than public attention.^[6]

Leffall died of cancer on May 25, 2019, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Leffall; his son, LaSalle D. Leffall III, also known as "Donney"; his sister, Dolores C. Leffall.^[8]

LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. was the first African American president of both the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons, advancing diversity in national medical leadership.^[5]

As chair of surgery at Howard University College of Medicine, he trained generations of physicians and surgeons who went on to lead in academia, health policy, and clinical care.^[19]

Leffall championed cancer prevention and efforts to reduce health disparities, shaping national strategies focused on underserved communities.^[21]

Several honors have been established in his name, including the LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. Cancer Prevention and Control Award and the surgical society founded at Howard University.^[29]

Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University and former mentee, reflected:

Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr. was a surgeon, oncologist, medical educator, civic leader, and mentor to me and so many others. [...] Even at the height of his achievements, Dr. Leffall remained accessible, generous, and deeply committed to students and patients. I will always cherish performing my first operation as a fully accredited surgeon alongside him—his final surgery before retirement. In many ways, Dr. Leffall was, is, and always will be our ever-burning fire.

LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. is prominently featured in the National Library of Medicine’s Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Academic Surgeons exhibit,^[30] which recognizes his groundbreaking career as a surgical oncologist, educator, and national leader. The exhibit highlights his role as the first African American president of the American Cancer Society, his chairmanship at Howard University College of Medicine, and his advocacy for cancer prevention and health equity. Through this national exhibition, Leffall’s enduring legacy is showcased as an inspiration for future generations of physicians and surgeons.^[1]

• The Washington Post: Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Howard University cancer surgeon and medical educator, dies at 89 (May 29, 2019). Comprehensive obituary highlighting his leadership in major surgical and oncology institutions.^[40]
• The Washington Post: The special spirit of the surgeon: Howard’s Dr. LaSalle Leffall by Jacqueline Trescott (February 16, 1979). Long-form profile celebrating Leffall’s surgical achievements, global outreach, and academic leadership.^[28]

• The Washington Post: Surgeon Helped Howard University Grow (February 15, 2009). Article tracing Leffall’s institutional leadership and influence on medical education.^[2]
• The Washington Post: Howard’s legendary Dr. LaSalle Leffall still going strong at 85 by Hamil R. Harris (May 19, 2015). Retrospective honoring his career longevity and continued impact at Howard.^[41]
• American College of Surgeons: LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., MD, FACS: Past Highlights (April 10, 2025). Profile documenting his presidency of ACS and pioneering efforts in surgical education and health equity.^[42]
• The New York Times: Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., 89, Dies; Cancer Society’s First Black Leader (May 31, 2019). Landmark obituary recognizing his historic roles in national surgical and cancer organizations.^[43]
• The Washington Post: LaSalle Leffall, first black leader of American Cancer Society, dies at 89 by Bart Barnes (May 29, 2019). Obituary reviewing his academic contributions and organizational leadership.^[40]
• Diverse: Issues In Higher Education: Remembering Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall (May 29, 2019). Reflections on his legacy in higher education and his role as a Black academic leader.^[44]
• Howard University Newsroom: Passing of Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. (May 31, 2019). Official announcement commemorating his decades of mentorship, public service, and medical excellence.^[45]
• The Cancer Letter: LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., one of only five surgeons in history to have served as president of both the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons (May 31, 2019). Policy obituary documenting his leadership across surgical oncology societies.^[46]
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: Susan G. Komen mourns the passing of Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. (May 27, 2019). Tribute honoring his contributions to cancer research, education, and advocacy.^[47]

• Nakayama, Don K. (2021). Don K. Nakayama (ed.). Black Surgeons and Surgery in America. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons. ISBN 978-1-7369212-1-0. Retrieved July 25, 2025.

• Dallapiazza, Robert F.; Peoples, George E. (October 2023). "LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr, MD, FACS: Reflections on His Life and Legacy". American Surgeon. 89 (10): 1876–1880. doi:10.1177/00031348231192046. Retrieved July 25, 2025.

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