Robert S. Jason was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in pathology. Jason had a medical degree as well and served as head of the department of pathology at Howard University and later as dean of its college of medicine. During his last years at Howard, he was coordinator for design and planning of its new University Hospital. In recognition of his many contributions to the university, the department of pathology at Howard's College of Medicine established in 1967 the Robert S. Jason Award in Pathology.

Robert Stewart Jason was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on November 29, 1901. He was the son of Reverend Howard Talbot Jason, a Presbyterian missionary who was originally from Maryland, and his missionary wife, Lena B. (Wright) Jason. After attending local schools in Corozal, Puerto Rico and graduating from the Polytechnic Institute of San German, Puerto Rico, Jason entered Lincoln University in...