NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University alumna Tiffany Taylor (’22) is using her role at the American Red Cross — while tapping into research that began during her MTSU studies — to help tell the story of Dr. Charles R. Drew and his dedication to saving lives through a newly released documentary that follows his life and work.  

The documentary, “Iconic Excellence: The Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew,” tells the story of the “Father of Blood Banking.” Through his work, Drew helped save hundreds of thousands of lives during World War II.

The film follows Drew’s life and his historic appointment as the first medical director of the Red Cross Blood Program in 1941.

“For 85 years, Dr. Drew’s story had never been fully told on screen accurately…,” said Taylor, a senior communications strategist for the American Red Cross.  “After several conversations with the Drew family, my team and I felt it was important to document his story in short form in a way that would truly resonate with communities.”

“Sharing this story with generations of students who may have never heard of Dr. Drew has been a delight. Dr. Drew took his bloodmobiles to where people were, and we hoped his story could reach people in that same way,” she said.

Watch the documentary below.

Told through the voices of his family and leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the Red Cross, the film’s title was inspired by Drew’s impact and personal mantra — “Excellence of performance will transcend artificial barriers created by man.”

“The NAACP and Omega Psi Phi are partners of ours, so it was the perfect opportunity to collaborate on something so historic and important to the culture,” Taylor said. “Through our incredible archival research team, we were able to add context from historical artifacts and articles in Black media publications that are often missing when others have told his story.”

Taylor said Dr. Drew’s story is personal to her because her grandfather was a World War II medic and a blood donor. Her dad, also a blood donor, inspired her to become a donor when she was 17.

MTSU capstone research built foundation

Besides the personal connection Taylor felt to Drew’s story, she said she actually began laying the groundwork for the documentary while working on her capstone research at MTSU.

“During my capstone research at MTSU, I found many studies on low engagement among blood donors who were Black, but much of that research failed to address the historic mistrust of health institutions by these communities stemming from how those donors stepped up during the war and were turned away or told that their blood would be segregated,” she explained.

Taylor said from her research and communications perspective, blood banks had historical repair to address.

“After speaking to the Drew family, I wanted to provide healing to our communities with the truth that the Black community has historically supported blood donation and is stepping up to support it today,” she said.

Despite the efforts of family, Taylor said myths about Dr. Drew’s life and death persisted.

“A documentary offered a way to help the family get the truth out to communities now and in the future. Ultimately, with the support of the Drew family, I wanted others to see themselves represented in the lifesaving legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew,” she said.

Taylor said one of her favorite parts of the project was hearing the incredible stories about Drew that the American Red Cross couldn’t fit into the 25-minute documentary.

“While he was a brilliant surgeon and scientist, he also co-wrote ‘Omega Dear,’ the official hymn of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. I loved hearing the endearing family stories about Dr. Drew, including how he loved music but wasn’t the greatest at playing an instrument, although he had a trumpet and a ukulele that he would strum, along with the family’s piano,” she said.

The documentary is narrated by journalist DeMarco Morgan. Individuals or organizations that would like to host their own screening or blood drive are welcome to visit www.RedCrossBlood.org/IconicExcellence.

— DeAnn Hays ([email protected])