Sidney the Kidney's June Book Club: Beyond Every Wall, Dr. Velma Scantlebury

The Bean
Jun 4
2 min read

Updated: Jun 5

📚 Sidney the Kidney's Book Club 📚

💡June Spotlight: Beyond Every Wall by Dr. Velma Scantlebury

At the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, we believe in preventing kidney disease, educating our communities, and empowering patients and families to take charge of their health. That’s why we launched Sidney’s Book Club, a monthly series curated by our beloved mascot, Sidney the Kidney, to spotlight books that reflect the resilience, advocacy, and real-life impact of kidney health in our communities.

Our June pick, Beyond Every Wall, is a memoir by Dr. Velma Scantlebury, the first Black female transplant surgeon in the United States. Her story is not just one of personal achievement but of breaking barriers, saving lives, and pushing for equity in a field where voices like hers have often gone unheard.

🧠 What the Book Is About

Beyond Every Wall takes readers on a journey through Dr. Scantlebury’s life, from her early years in Barbados to her groundbreaking career in transplant surgery. Along the way, she opens up about the obstacles she faced as a woman of color in medicine, the patients who inspired her, and the moments that tested her faith.

🌍 Why This Book Matters

Dr. Scantlebury’s personal story has profoundly impacted the lives of so many people. She sheds light on the experiences of Black women in healthcare and emphasizes the significance of diversity in transplant surgery and organ donation. Her life’s work has saved countless lives and inspired many others to step through doors she helped open.