Remembering Dr. Gladney’s Contributions to Otolaryngology and Diversity

Leading by Example

Perhaps the deepest impressions that Dr. Gladney made on others were communicated via his actions rather than his words. Not only did he confront cruel and unjust obstacles on his path to success in life and career, but he did it with dignity, focus, and resolve. Dr. Gladney became a daily role model to his patients, students, colleagues, and community by the example of his choice: He chose to settle in a segregated part of the country with a deeply and painfully significant history, in a city where, in 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court’s notoriously discriminatory Dred Scott decision was passed down. He chose to march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Selma, Ala., in 1965. He chose to move into University City, one of the first African Americans to do so, and his family led the way in integrating a segregated public school system.

“John grew up with that discrimination, basically faced it throughout his career,” said Dr. Bond. “He knew his community and their thinking about an African American doctor. He recognized the barriers in front of him. But he always knew what he wanted: his dignity and to be recognized as a professional providing care to the greater St Louis community. He triumphed over that discrimination and became a very respected person in the community. After he retired, the state of Missouri recognized him for the 50 years that he contributed to the health of the community. He was quite honored by that citation because it was a recognition that made up for the early years when he practiced in a segregated St. Louis community.”

In today’s language, Dr. Gladney’s approach to his fellow humans would have been called having “an attitude of abundance.” He felt that there was room for every individual to grow and succeed. “I would just say that he was an advocate for everybody,” stressed Dr. Thompson. “Through the leadership roles that he held, specifically as the first African American chair of a department, his mentorship transcended race or gender just by who he was and the leadership roles that he held. It was his nature to want to see everybody be successful.” 

Linda Kossoff is a freelance medical writer based in Woodland Hills Calif.