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The First African American Face Transplant : Short Wave In 2013, Robert Chelsea was hit by a drunk driver and sustained third-degree burns on more than half of his body. Nearly six years later, he became the first African American recipient of a full face transplant. We talk with Chelsea and Jamie Ducharme, a Time staff writer who followed his journey, about the procedure and how his story could help encourage organ donation by African Americans. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. And email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

Short Wave

The First African American Face Transplant

The First African American Face Transplant

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In July 2019, Robert Chelsea became the first African American to receive a full face transplant. Lightchaser Photography / J. Kiely Jr./Brigham and Women's Hospital hide caption

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Lightchaser Photography / J. Kiely Jr./Brigham and Women's Hospital

In July 2019, Robert Chelsea became the first African American to receive a full face transplant.

Lightchaser Photography / J. Kiely Jr./Brigham and Women's Hospital

In 2013, Robert Chelsea was hit by a drunk driver and sustained third-degree burns on more than half of his body. Nearly six years later, he became the first African American recipient of a full face transplant. We talk with Chelsea and Jamie Ducharme, a Time staff writer who followed his journey, about the procedure and how his story could help encourage organ donation by African Americans.

Follow Maddie on Twitter — she's @maddie_sofia. And email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brit Hanson and edited by Viet Le.