Dr. Leroy Graham was born on Valentine’s Day in 1954 at Providence Hospital on Chicago’s South Side, the very institution where Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed America’s first successful open-heart surgery. This historic birthplace would prove prophetic for a life devoted to breaking barriers in medicine, leadership, and community health.

Raised in the wake of his parents’ divorce, Dr. Graham refused to become a statistic. Guided by his mother’s “no pity parties” philosophy and strengthened by the presence of a committed stepfather, he grew up with the rare advantage of two engaged fathers instead of one absent one, an early foundation for resilience, discipline, and excellence.

His academic journey reflects a lifelong commitment to achievement against the odds. Dr. Graham was educated by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order founded to serve African American and Native American communities, before attending Saint Ignatius College Prep, where a Jesuit education sharpened his intellectual rigor. He went on to Saint Joseph’s College in Philadelphia for pre-med studies and earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he made history as the first African American inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Graham served 14 years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5). As Brigade Surgeon for the Second Brigade, First Infantry Division, he was responsible for the medical readiness and care of more than 2,000 soldiers. His military service included deployment during Operation Desert Storm, participation in ceasefire ceremonies, and direct interaction with General Norman Schwarzkopf—experiences that further shaped his leadership and commitment to service.

Following his military career, Dr. Graham became a pediatric pulmonary specialist practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization Not One More Life, through which he champions “radical health consumerism” and addresses persistent health disparities in minority communities. His work emphasizes education, empowerment, and partnership with churches and community organizations to improve health outcomes from the ground up.

Dr. Graham has been married for over 40 years to his wife, Dr. Patrice Graham, also a physician. They are the proud parents of two accomplished adult children: Arianne, a Harvard Business School graduate working in corporate strategy, and Max, a professional dog trainer. Dr. Graham continues his advocacy and mentorship through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in Florida.

Breaking Barriers is his first book.