Knocking at the Door: The Life and Legacy of Dr. James Montgomery

Part of the Reynolds-Finley Lecture Series, hosted by UAB Libraries Historical Collections

Delivered by Haley Wells, MA, UAB '24

In 1964, a Black cardiologist named Dr. James Montgomery became the first Black doctor to practice medicine at UAB’s University Hospital—a historic moment in Birmingham’s long civil rights story. Though he came from humble beginnings, Dr. Montgomery rose to become a trailblazer for change in Birmingham. He worked alongside activists like Fred Shuttlesworth and fought tirelessly to integrate hospitals and medical societies, improve healthcare for Black residents, and open doors for the next generation of Black doctors and healthcare workers. In this presentation on Dr. Montgomery’s life and activism, Ms. Wells will reveal how Montgomery’s story illuminates a critical facet of the Birmingham civil rights story that has previously been overlooked. She will also address the legacy of Dr. Montgomery’s activism, examine its implications for future activism, and share some insights on how we can all follow in Dr. Montgomery’s footsteps to fight for change within our own spheres of influence.

Haley Wells is a historian of African American and Birmingham civil rights history, with a focus on race and medicine. A UAB alumni, she graduated in 2024 with a dual B.A. in English and history and a M.A. in history. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the history of Black hospitals in Birmingham, and her graduate thesis examined the work of Dr. James Montgomery, a Birmingham civil rights activist and the first Black doctor to practice medicine at UAB. Haley has presented her research at a variety of conferences, including several Phi Alpha Theta regional conferences, the 2023 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the 2023 Symposium for History Undergraduate Research at Mississippi State, and the 2024 Southern Studies Conference. She is also the recipient of several college awards, including the 2024 Outstanding History Graduate Student Award at UAB. She now works as a program manager at the Alabama Holocaust Education Center, heading up their community education programming.

Accreditation Statement

The University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine designates this Regularly Scheduled Series for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.