Mr. Charles A. Smith was born in Bermuda in 1902. Through his earlier education is not evident he attended the Berkeley Institute and later studied at Wilberforce University Ohio, and the Meharry Medical College in Tennessee where he was awarded a M.D. degree with honours.

He was described as a hard and dedicated worker who never shied away from taking a leadership role and giving back to the community. He came back to Bermuda eager to work and applied for work in the local hospital here in the Island, it was here he faced some of the worse racial elements his home place Bermuda. He didn’t let up he applied for work in his chosen field again and was turned down. Around this time he was awarded a fellowship by the Rockefeller Foundation to do advance work in Pharmacology, it was the study of the use of drugs and Therapeutics. After that internship he was appointed assistant and instructor of all three subjects at Meharry Medical School two years later. He continued to work at the Royal City of Dublin Hospital in Ireland for a year and completed a post-graduate course in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics at the City’s Rotunda Maternity Hospital. Dr. Smith also worked at Glasgow Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Scotland where he acquired further professional qualifications. He was well qualified but his desire was to come back home to Bermuda to work in his field and once again hoping things had changed he applied at the hospital in 1934 and was denied work here in the Island. Racism was still blatant and Dr. Smith who was at this time commonly known as C.A. received a letter from the serving Governor of the Island in 1934 which read the medical board was unable to recommend you (Dr. Smith) for registration to work at this medical facility in your chosen field.

Dr. C.A. struggled on and his principle beliefs and integrity helped pave the way for other black doctors in Bermuda. Dr. C.A. had to make a decision and his final choice upon returning home was to establish his own practice as a Medical Professional and he started his own practice in Obstetrics. Most of his patients called him Doc. He didn’t struggle any more for work as he maintained a large ratio of patients until he retired.

Dr. Smith (Doc) C.A went on to glory in 2022 well rewarded for his contribution to his profession and community.

Researched and submitted

By Joy Wilson-Tucker