About Dr. Burroughs
Sharing My Journey to a Career in Medicine in a Transitioning South
Dr. Burroughs was the first African-American physician in Raleigh to specialize in pediatrics. He was born in 1930 in Burlington, New Jersey. He attended Hampton Institute, where he served in ROTC and was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. After graduation, he went on to serve his country in the Cold War. Dr. Burroughs traveled from across the country to states like Philadelphia to Oklahoma and internationally to Germany all within a short matter of years.
When he returned, he enrolled at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. It was there that he developed his skills in pediatrics. He fulfilled his residency at Meharry Medical College and Tuskegee Institute before eventually moving to Raleigh to begin his practice. Dr. Burroughs provided health services to those who otherwise could not afford healthcare. He served as an ally for families of all races struggling to receive care for their children. During his time as a pediatrician, he integrated both Rex Hospital and one medical practice’s staff of physicians. He not only earned a high honor for his work in Knightdale, a community service award given by the North Carolina Pediatric Society, but an induction into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.