LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. (May 22, 1930 – May 25, 2019) was an American surgeon, surgical oncologist, and medical educator. He chaired the Department of Surgery at Howard University College of Medicine from 1970 to 1995 and served as the Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery. In 1978, Leffall became the first African American president of the American Cancer Society, and in 1995, he became the first African American president of the American College of Surgeons.
Early life and education
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. His father was a professor of agriculture at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College (FAMU), and his mother was also a teacher.
Leffall graduated from Dr. Wallace S. Stevens High School in 1945 at age 15, and earned a B.S. degree in biology, summa cum laude, from Florida A&M University in 1948. 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. His mentors included Charles R. Drew, Burke Syphax, W. Montague Cobb, and Jack E. White.
He completed his internship at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, followed by surgical training as an assistant resident in surgery at Freedmen's Hospital (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.
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.
Military service
In 1960, Leffall entered the United States Army Medical Corps with the rank of Captain, M.C.. He was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas before being assigned as chief of general surgery at the U.S. Army Hospital in Munich, Germany. He completed two years of active duty and was later honorably discharged with the rank of Major.
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. 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.
Military insignia 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
Career, leadership, and honors
After completing his surgical oncology fellowship and fulfilling his Army commitment, Leffall joined the faculty of the Howard University College of Medicine in 1962. In 1970, he became one of the youngest chairs—and the first African American—to lead the Department of Surgery at Howard. In 1992, he was appointed the first Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, named in honor of the pioneering surgeon and medical innovator.
Throughout his more than five decades at Howard, Leffall was a dedicated educator and mentor, teaching approximately 6,000 medical students and training nearly 300 general surgery residents.
Leffall also made landmark contributions to national medical leadership. In 1978, he became the first African American elected president of the American Cancer Society. 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.
He went on to become the first Black president of the American College of Surgeons in 1995, 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.
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, where he championed efforts to improve outreach, screening, and treatment access in minority communities.
Appointed by President George W. Bush and reappointed by President Barack Obama, Leffall chaired the President’s Cancer Panel from 2002 to 2011, advising the White House on cancer policy, disparities, and national prevention strategies.
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.
Participating in the 2007 congressional forum, Reducing Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap, where he highlighted inequities in cancer outcomes and called for targeted interventions.
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.
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.
Throughout his career, LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. received 14 honorary degrees from institutions including Georgetown University, Amherst College, Meharry Medical College, and Princeton University. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, joining the highest ranks of the U.S. medical and scientific community.
Among his many honors, Leffall received the prestigious Candace Award for Science in 1983 from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. In 1984, the American Cancer Society awarded him its Distinguished Service Award, one of the organization's highest honors, recognizing his exemplary leadership and long-standing commitment to cancer prevention and education.
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.
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.
Beyond his clinical and policy work, Leffall held interim senior administrative positions at Howard, including as interim senior vice president and provost, while continuing to teach and mentor students until his death in 2019.
The price of courage
Mentorship played a consistent role in Leffall’s career. Dr. Wendy Greene, who trained at Howard University, recalled his reflections 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.
Leffall’s professional approach emphasized discipline, attentiveness, and sustained involvement in patient care. His contributions focused on practice and teaching rather than public attention.
Death, personal life, and legacy 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.
Legacy and impact
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.
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.
Leffall championed cancer prevention and efforts to reduce health disparities, shaping national strategies focused on underserved communities.
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.
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University and former mentee, reflected:
In popular culture
LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. is featured in the National Library of Medicine’s Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Academic Surgeons exhibit, which recognizes his 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.
Awards, honors, leadership roles, and fellowships Award Organization Year Notes Ref Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award American Cancer Society 1965 Recognized early volunteer leadership Candace Award for Science National Coalition of 100 Black Women 1983 Distinguished contributions to medical science Distinguished Service Award American Cancer Society 1984 Honored for dedicated service to ACS mission Presidential Award of Merit American Cancer Society 1987 Recognized for outstanding national service in cancer advocacy Heritage Award Society of Surgical Oncology 2001 Inaugural recipient of the society’s highest honor Charles R. Drew Award Howard University College of Medicine 2005 Excellence in medical education and mentorship AACR Public Service Award American Association for Cancer Research 2007 Recognized leadership in cancer prevention and disparities W. Montague Cobb Lifetime Achievement Award National Medical Association 2011 Lifetime service to medical education, disparities work, and surgical mentorship Commander’s Award for Public Service Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1970–2000 Principal Civilian Consultant in General Surgery for 30 years Gold Medal of Honor American Surgical Association 2019 (posthumous) Association’s highest honor for a lifetime of surgical achievement
Leadership roles Position Organization Years Notes Ref President American Cancer Society 1978–1979 First African American to lead the organization President Society of Surgical Oncology 1990s First African American president of the society President American College of Surgeons 1995–1996 Served as national leader of the largest surgical organization Member National Academy of Medicine 2000 Elected to one of the highest honors in U.S. medicine Chair President’s Cancer Panel 2002–2011 Chaired federal advisory panel under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama Chair, Board of Directors Susan G. Komen Foundation 2002–2007, 2011–2012 Led disparity-focused outreach programs
Fellowships and awards