MCMS was founded by Dr. Louis T. Wright in 1930. Dr. Wright graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 1911 and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1915, finishing fourth in his class. He was the first African American on the surgical staff of Harlem Hospital.

Wright was known for his research as well as his work as a civil rights activist who pushed for racial equality in medicine. He served as Chairman of the NAACP for almost 20 years.