Levi Watkins Jr.
The Levi Watkins, Jr. Lecture will be held on Monday, Oct. 5, at noon in 208 Light Hall. John L. Tarpley, MD, FWACS, FACS, will be the speaker. His lecture title is, “Nobody Even Knows My Name.”
This annual lecture celebrates Dr. Levi Watkins Jr., VUSM’s first African American student and graduate and pioneering cardiac surgeon. He graduated from VUSM in 1970, having distinguished himself as an exceptional student, and went on to significantly impact modern medicine through his research and surgical skill. In 1980, Watkins became the first surgeon to implant an automatic defibrillator in a patient, assisted in this work by Vivien Thomas. He remained committed to Vanderbilt throughout his life, and an annual lecture was named in his honor in 2002. He attended every lecture until his death in April of 2015. Watkins served on the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust and was the recipient of both the Vanderbilt Medal of Honor in 1998 and the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. Watkins was a passionate mentor and advocate, serving as a role model for countless students, trainees, and faculty members pursuing careers in medicine and the biomedical sciences.
No RSVP is required to attend the lecture.
Tarpley attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with Watkins. Tarpley and Watkins then went on to Johns Hopkins Hospital to complete surgical residencies together. Watkins stayed on to join the faculty at Johns Hopkins, building a career as a renowned cardiac surgeon.
Tarpley spent two years during residency at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health before forging a career as an academic surgeon dedicated to international medical service in education, clinical care and capacity building. In 2016, Tarpley retired from VUMC after 23 years as a faculty member. Post retirement Tarpley spent several years in several African countries. In 2018-2021 he was Head of Department (Chair) of Surgery at the University of Botswana, where with Motswana colleagues, they launched the country’s first general surgery residency program in 2020. From 2021-2025 he was Academic Dean for the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons. He continues to travel to Africa to help in education and capacity building several times a year.
