Granddaughter of a midwife, daughter of a nurse, medicine was in Mary Williams Casselberry’s blood, so to speak. After graduating with honors from DuSable High School in Chicago, she pursued this interest at Northwestern University. Here a professor denied her a grade she had earned, a grade that would have put her into medical school. This racist action further fueled her determination as she instead entered a training program at Michael Reese Hospital and earned her certification as a Medical Technologist.
Mary Casselberry went on to run Lake Forest Hospital’s Laboratory for over 30 years. A pioneer in her field, she played a vital role in developing the hospital’s innovation Cytaphoresis (Blood Component) Therapy Unit, a breakthrough in the treatment of blood-based illnesses.
