Dr. Anna Lopez-Johnson, COM Dean Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MLKCH CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor, Dr. Sylvia Gates-Carlisle
Anthem, Inc. was the event’ s Platinum Sponsor. Anthem is the largest for-profit managed health care company in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Gold Sponsors included McPherson and Sway, The California Wellness Foundation, the Office of 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, Charles R. Drew University, Blue Shield of California and the BSC Employees’ Network. There was also a significant number of Silver and Bronze Sponsors including Molina, Cedars, UPS, Optum, the Watts Healthcare Corporation, ABWP Founding President Dr. Jesse L. Sherrod, and City National Bank. There were also virtual table sponsors and individual donors. KABC7 served as Media Sponsor.
Following a welcome by KABC7’ s Leslie Sykes and opening prayer by Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard of USC’ s Cecil Murray Center for Civic Engagement, ABWP President and Event Chair Dr. Cozzette Lyons-Jones gave an organizational overview of ABWP and its operations,“ The work that ABWP has been privileged to do for almost forty years is just as essential now amidst the current global pandemic as essential workers contribute to the frontline efforts against the virus known as SARS-CoV-2,” she noted.
“ ABWP has been the change we wanted to see since its inception, paying it forward by mentoring premedical and medical school students. Fundraising initiatives like today’ s telecast have provided much needed scholarships to academically outstanding Black women to help defray the high cost of medical education,” added Dr. Lyons- Jones. Elected officials spoke with conviction and sincerity that linked ABWP with the ongoing need to mentor, train, and provide financial support to aspiring young black women physicians.
ABWP immediate past president Dr. Sylvia Gates- Carlisle saw ABWP’ s role as,“ The ability to punch above one’ s weight; to perform or achieve or do something far beyond one’ s talent, abilities and attributes.” She cited the accomplishment of raising over three-quarters of a million dollars to support its mission and vision as ABWP’ s enduring legacy. She addressed the question of why black women physicians are needed, stating,“ By any measurement, black patient outcomes are the worst: infant mortality, maternal mortality, cancer, diabetes, cardiac disease. America needs a physician workforce that can engage diverse populations.”
Stewardship and giving back were key messages throughout. Thirteen medical students currently attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the USC Keck medical program and the Charles Drew University / UCLA medical education program were feted. Varina Clark, a fourth-year student at UCLA’ s David Geffen School of Medicine, described the story of her medical school experience as an uphill climb that would be even more arduous without ABWP’ s help.
Treasurer and Scholarship Committee Chair Dr. LaTanya Hines provided a compelling case for donor contributions, stating that these students are part of a pipeline that will ease the chronic physician shortage in underserved communities. Dr. Hines, a UC Irvine medical school graduate, noted that she had received ABWP financial support twice during her student years.
The evening’ s honorees were introduced with video tributes that celebrated their outstanding achievements and contributions as community leaders. Dr. Chandra Ford, Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice and Healing at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, received the 2020 ABWP Lifetime Achievement Award for her role in the fight to eradicate healthcare inequities.
Judy Belk, President / CEO of the California Wellness Foundation received the 2020 ABWP Humanitarian Award. California Wellness awards approximately $ 43 million annually in grants and program-related investments that promote health equity and advocacy for communities and individuals whose lives and wellness are too often determined by their race, income, immigration status or where they live.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 21