Alvin H. Crawford M.D., FACS

Alvin H. Crawford graduated Cum Laude in Chemistry and Music from Tennessee State University. In 1964, he became the first African American to graduate from the University of Tennessee College Of Medicine, began his residency at Boston Naval Hospital and completed it at the combined Harvard University Orthopaedic Program. Fellowships include Otto Aufranc arthroplasty, Boston Children’s and A. I. DuPont Pediatric and Spine.

Dr. Crawford was Director of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for 29 years and was awarded endowed Chairs in Pediatric Orthopaedics and Spinal Surgery and the Crawford Spine Center was dedicated in his name. He has lectured and/or performed surgery in 41 countries and trained 54 international fellows in Pediatric Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery.  Specializing in Scoliosis, he is considered an authority on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and Neurofibromatosis in children.  A prolific author, publishing over 200 peer reviewed articles, more than 63 chapters, and six books. Cited as one of the Top 10 Educators in the first 100 Years of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, (only surgeon), and country’s best doctors since 1996.

He is currently an assistant in Jazz History at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and Professor Emeritus in Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. In 2019, he initiated the Black Men in Medicine Cincinnati (BMIMC) to mentor, assist, and sustain the graduation of undergraduate medical students of color.

Dr. Crawford is a retired U.S. Naval Captain, has been married to Alva Jean for 59 wonderful years. He is father to Alvin (Charlotte) and Carole, and a proud grandfather to Mia, Elle and Uma. He is an avid musician and a tennis enthusiast.