Celebrating the Life of Dr. Shirley McBay

The Hydrocephalus Association celebrates the life of Dr. Shirley McBay, who passed away in late November. In 1966, Dr. McBay was the first Black person to receive a doctorate from the University of Georgia and was a pioneer in advocating for diversity in science and math education.

She was a professor at Spelman College before moving on to the National Science Foundation and then to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she served as Dean of Student Affairs and directed MIT’s Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Project. Dr. McBay was diagnosed with diabetes and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), as disclosed by her son. Read the New York Times article about her legacy. 

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is a treatable form of dementia affecting an estimated 700,000 seniors. It is projected that up to 5% of the diagnoses of dementia are Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which is so often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. NPH typically presents with trouble walking, an urgency to urinate, and cognitive issues.

To learn more about NPH, visit: https://www.hydroassoc.org/about-normal-pressure-hydrocephalus/