Into the 1960s, American hospitals, medical services, and blood banks were racially segregated across the US. A 1963 federal court case (Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital) ruled that unconstitutional, but racial segregation in hospitals persisted in both the North and the South. Real change came in 1966, over a period of just 4 months. Hospitals across America were racially desegregated without the violence, turmoil, or political divide that accompanied efforts to desegregate American schools. How was this accomplished, and how was this historic change able to be achieved without the violent White backlash that accompanied efforts to desegregate public schools? This workshop uncovers the political dynamics, partnerships, and powerful leadership that brought about the effective, peaceful, and lasting desegregation of American medicine. By contrast, we will also highlight some of the factors that provided such different outcomes in efforts to desegregate American education. Using this as a case study, we can derive lessons to be learned in contemporary efforts to achieve equitable access in other realms such as voting rights, home ownership, or criminal justice. Participants will be challenged to identify the leadership, community partnerships, human resources, legal clarity, timeline, and contingency planning that allowed the desegregation of American medicine to be peacefully achieved. Participants will be challenged to apply these lessons to their own areas of concern, civic involvement, or employment. This will include identifying the sense of urgency, resource needs, collaboration, leadership challenges, and contingencies for their own special area of interest.