Wilfreta Gourdine Baugh, MD

Wilfreta is the second of seven children born to the late Wilford St. Julian and Mazie Julia Gourdine. She was raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, she graduated from J. C. Norcrom High School and pursued her undergraduate studies in math and chemistry at Hampton Institute (presently known as Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia. A talented student, she was the top student at both her high school and college graduations.

After college Wilfreta enrolled in graduate school at Penn State to study meteorology — the only female student among 75 male Air Force officers. While en route to Penn State, Baugh stopped in Philadelphia to visit a friend where she met William Bernard Baugh of historic Germantown. After a brief courtship, the couple married and had two children, William and Gabrielle.

Wilfreta relocated to Philadelphia where she taught math for the Philadelphia School District. After seven years of teaching, she enrolled in Jefferson Medical College where she distinguished herself by serving as one of four class officers for three consecutive years. During her third year of medical school, her beloved husband passed away.

Wilfreta completed her residency in internal medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center and in 1982, she established a community-based internal medicine practice in Germantown until her retirement in 2013.

In addition to being an accomplished physician, Wilfreta held several
notable leadership positions. She was the second female and first African-American president of Jefferson Medical College Alumni Association, the nations largest medical alumni association. She served as president of the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania, the local chapter of the National Medical Association, for four years. During her tenure she developed and ran AIM - African Americans Internship in Medicine from 1992 - 2008. AIM was a successful summer internship for African-American college students that were interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Students were provided the opportunity to shadow eight different African-American Physicians in different specialties while receiving a financial stipend.

Wilfreta is a competitive floral arranger. She has been a member of Our Garden Club of Philadelphia and Vicinity, America's oldest federated African-American Garden Club since 1972. She has exhibited in the Philadelphia Flower Show, the nations largest and longest running horticultural event, every year since 1974 - 2019. She only missed 2020 because her position as Vice Chair of Competitive Classes would not allow her. She is a dedicated volunteer and has held many advisor positions throughout the years. She has competed at the designer studio (floral version of Chopped) also serves as an early morning tour guide. She has earned numerous blue ribbons and awards. She has also had the honor to compete in International World Association Flower Shows.

Wilfreta is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. having joined as an undergraduate at Hampton in the Gamma Theta Chapter. She has maintained lifetime friendships with her AKA sisters.

As a member of the The Links, Inc, the nations oldest and largest volunteer service organization, Wilfreta has been able to amplify her impact in serving her community linked in friendship with her fellow members.

Wilfreta has seven grandchildren and one great-grand daughter.