These include campaigning for the need for the early detection of breast cancer, the genetics of sickle-cell anemia and greater understanding of diabetes-related concerns.
Harris was one of the first African Americans to enroll at Miami Jackson High School, graduating twelfth in her class of 350 in 1967.
Harris earned her doctorate in 1975 and was a research associate, studying the virology of tumors, in the medical school at Rutgers University from 1975 to 1977.
In this role, she was responsible for raising money for sickle cell research - a condition mainly affecting people of African descent - and for educating the public on the disease.
[4] In 1987, Harris founded BioTechnical Communications, which creates audiovisual educational materials on health topics.