E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, gave this presentation as part of the Marshall A. Falk, MD ’56, Distinguished Lectureship series. Dr. Reece discussed the roles that academic medical centers play in improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of a local or global community. By identifying the specific needs of a community and working to make sure those needs are met, academic medical centers can reduce health disparities, manage the spread of emerging diseases, respond to medical crises and public health threats, and improve the life expectancy of the local population.
Evelyn Lewis, MD ’83, MA, FAAFP, deputy director of the National Medical Association/Cobb Research Institute and chief medical officer of the Steptoe Group, presented during Medical Grand Rounds. Dr. Lewis, who served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, focused on the topics of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
CMS students, alumni and faculty attended the 2014 Chicago Champions of Health Awards, held at the Union League Club of Chicago. This annual awards ceremony is an event that brings together physicians, healthcare leaders, medical school deans, medical school diversity officers, and minority medical students from the Chicago area. The event is hosted by National Medical Fellowships, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented minority physicians and other healthcare professionals. Two members of the CMS community received an award at this ceremony: Dianna Grant, MD '79, received the NMF Distinguished Alumni Award for her commitment to women’s health and healthcare administration; and Jalia Tucker, CMS ’16, received the Aetna Foundation/NMF Healthcare Leadership Award for her leadership potential and her commitment to serving medically underserved communities.
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, renowned infertility specialist, dean of Morehouse School of Medicine, and the first African American woman to lead a freestanding medical school, was invited to present during RFU’s inaugural Ruth Rothstein Memorial Lecture. Her presentation, “Women’s Health at the Intersection: Race, Social Position and Class,” addressed the health disparities that exist based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Alexa Canady, MD, former chief of neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, was invited to speak as part of RFU’s Black History Month Pioneer in Medicine speaker series. Dr. Canady was the first African American woman to become a board-certified neurosurgeon, and she is one of the first ten female neurosurgeons of any race. Her presentation, “The Path Is Never Linear,” details the obstacles she faced and how she overcame them to become a doctor. This event was sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion, the CMS Office of Student Affairs and Diversity, the Student National Medical Association, and the American Medical Women's Association.
As part of the 2013 CMS Alumni Weekend, CMS hosted a Multicultural Summit entitled “Dream Makers” in partnership with the Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program (CAHMCP). CAHMCP (pronounced “champ”) is dedicated to increasing the number of qualified minorities in medical school and in the medical field. The summit, which featured panel discussions, interactive sessions, and alumni interviews, provided a platform for CMS alumni, students, faculty, staff and community partners to talk about some of the challenges that affect underrepresented minority medical and healthcare students and solutions to those issues.
The summit was followed by a reunion and awards dinner, where several individuals in CMS and CAHMCP were honored for their commitment to CAHMCP’s mission and for helping many underrepresented minorities reach their dreams:
During the summit, several alumni were invited to share their experiences and give advice to current and future students. In the following video, Maya Rolfe, CMS ’16, interviews Monique Alford-Jones, MD ’93; Dennis Garrett, MD ’00; and Ronald Rembert Jr., MD ’00. The three alumni discuss their careers, their experiences at CMS, their role models, and their motivations for becoming doctors.
In the following video, Kina Peppers, MD ’01, discusses the experiences she had at Chicago Medical School while participating in the Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program (CAHMCP). CAHMCP (pronounced “champ”) is the longtime partner of RFU’s Pre-Matriculation Program.
Ardis Dee Hoven, MD, president of the American Medical Association, visited RFU in honor of Women in Medicine Month. She delivered her presentation, “Shaping the Future of American Health Care,” to more than 500 students, faculty, and staff members. During this presentation, Dr. Hoven discussed healthcare reform and stressed the importance of interprofessional healthcare delivery. In addition to this address, Dr. Hoven also had breakfast with student leaders, met with Dr. Michael Welch and Dr. Russell Robertson (then dean of CMS), and met for discussions with several student organizations and interest groups.
Marc A. Nivet, EdD, MBA, chief diversity officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges, presented during Medical Grand Rounds. His presentation, “Diversity and Inclusion in Academic Medicine: From Fairness to Excellence,” encompassed topics such as the diversification of the healthcare workforce, the difference between diversity and inclusion, and the importance of creating a culture of inclusion in medical schools.
Stephanie Whyte, MD ’96, chief health officer for the Chicago Public Schools, gave a presentation entitled “Taking Medicine Outside the Box.” This presentation was part of the university’s Alumni Series.
Agnes Lattimer, MD ’54, former medical director of Cook County Hospital, was invited to Chicago Medical School to participate in a program in honor of Black History Month. Dr. Lattimer entered CMS in 1950 as one of only two women and the only African American in her class. Dr. Mildred Olivier, assistant dean for diversity at CMS, talked to Dr. Lattimer about her life experiences.
Ronald Rembert Jr., MD ’00, a physician specializing in family medicine, gave the presentation “The Business of Medicine” as part of the Prescription for Excellence alumni seminar series. Dr. Rembert discussed his role as a physician advisor at hospitals around the country with Accretive Health.
Dr. Mildred Olivier and several CMS students attended the 2012 Chicago Champions of Health Awards, held at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. This annual awards ceremony is an event that brings together physicians, healthcare leaders, medical school deans, medical school diversity officers, and minority medical students from the Chicago area. The event is hosted by National Medical Fellowships, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented minority physicians and other healthcare professionals.