‘Always there to help.’ Renowned Charlotte doctor, Melvin Pinn Jr., dies at 74
More than any award he ever received, Dr. Melvin Pinn’s greatest joy came from caring for patients in underserved and marginalized communities.
While more than four decades ago Pinn was the first Black physician hired at a major Charlotte hospital, the doctor did his best work at the Neighborhood Medical Center, in northwest Charlotte. There, he focused on health issues such as adolescent pregnancy, HIV and AIDS.
Pinn achieved much in his life and received many accolades, including the American Association of Family Physicians’ 1998 Family Physician of the Year award. His greatest passion, however, came after clinic hours when he strived to get to know his patients and their lives.
“I started asking about their mom and dad, and I always want to know about the children I delivered,” Pinn told the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1997. “That always makes you feel good, and you don’t want to rush those moments. When you look back, you feel really good that you’ve impacted somebody’s life, and that you’ve set an example.”
Pinn died on July 26. He was 74.
He is survived by his wife, Evora; his two daughters, Dr. Tanika Pinn of Williamsburg, Virginia and Dr. Melva Pinn-Bingham of Chesapeake, Virginia; his son, Melvin Pinn III of Hampton, Virginia; and his three grandchildren, Nadia, McKinley and Leland Bingham.
Carrying on the family tradition
When she was a kid, Tanika Pinn recalled hearing her dad’s name announced on a radio show highlighting Black leaders during Black History Month.
The reason: In 1979, staff at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, which later grew into Atrium Health, one of the region’s largest health care systems, hired Pinn as its first Black attending physician.
Inspired by their father’s pioneering work, his daughters wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Both Pinn sisters, who attended Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, also practice medicine in underserved communities. Tanika Pinn is now a physician who specializes in family medicine and sports medicine, while her sister, Melva Pinn-Bingham is a radiation oncologist.
“My sister and I served in rural communities, but we basically wanted anyone who didn’t have access to health care to have health care,” Tanika Pinn said.
While each progressed through school and residency, their father, who recognized minorities were underrepresented in the medical field, advocated for and helped numerous Black students get into college and medical school.
A man of principle
Outside of his practice, Pinn was heavily involved in activities at his undergraduate alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University. He was chair of the National Education Foundation at the university in 1988, and a member of the alumni association.
Pinn graduated from University of Virginia’s medical school in 1976 and earned a master’s degree in public health from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1991.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Pinn also was a distinguished member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., the chapter at JCSU, and he attended the school on a tennis scholarship. In July, he was recognized for his years of membership during the historic Black fraternity’s 83rd annual Conclave held in Charlotte.
Evora, Pinn’s wife for 51 years, said her husband held many local and national positions within Omega Psi Phi, and always tried to embody the fraternity’s cardinal principles — manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift — throughout his life.
“The people he came into contact with all felt impacted by him,” Evora said. “We’ve heard innumerable stories about how he positively affected their lives. Whether they were dealing with a health problem, applying for a job or presenting at a workshop, he was always there to help.”
Although Pinn developed close relationships with hundreds of people across the country, he always made time for his family. He was always happy to help his children with their studies, encourage them to do their best, and push them to stay focused. And when his grandchildren were playing in a baseball or basketball game, he was always in the stands cheering them on.
“One of my best memories is simply what a great family man he was,” Evora said. “Those relationships were really important to him.”
A memorial service for Pinn will be held 10 a.m., Saturday at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Road.
This story was originally published August 19, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
