Cedar Rapids, IA – A year-long, joint book project sponsored by UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids and Mercy Medical Center, aimed at honoring and preserving the legacy of long-time Cedar Rapids physician Dr. Percy Harris, is now available to the public.
The locally published book, A Healing Presence in Our Community, outlines the history of Cedar Rapids’ first African American physician, Dr. Harris and his wife, Lileah. The pair were trailblazers and made many contributions to the Cedar Rapids community. Dr. Harris was the first African American intern at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1957, had his own medical practice until 1999, and was Linn County Medical Examiner for nearly 40 years – retiring in 2000.
The book is available for reading at the African American Museum, Cedar Rapids Public Library, the Linn County History Center or online at: bit.ly/percyharris
