42nd Annual ABWP Gala was a Signature Message of Commitment
The Los Angeles City Club was the scene of the 2023rd annual Gala of the Association of Black Women Physicians. The event demonstrated ABWP’ s longstanding commitment to health equity, while actively addressing the most crucial medical challenges that affect our community. The event also was an opportunity to salute women who are pursuing medical degrees at a variety of significant training institutions with scholarships to further their education.
For the past 42 years, under ABWP’ s leadership, a variety of needs have been tackled through this annual occasion. The Gala is an occasion to honor steadfast leadership and guidance both within the medical profession and to recognize trailblazers in other professions for their contributions, courage, and insight. This year’ s honorees were as well-deserving as those acknowledged in previous years.
This year’ s event opened with a poem by Mistress of Ceremonies Tammi Mack, followed by a rousing celebratory rendition of the classic gospel piece,“ Every Time I Feel the Spirit” by Daniel Johnson and a full complement of talented musicians who added a unique kind of life with their music. The group performed throughout and added to the event’ s festive tone.
This year’ s theme, The Black Family: Strength and Unity Through Health and Mental Well Being, was very timely, given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on many persons and the social readjustment that has accompanied the return to a normal lifestyle. The event had the added excitement of being the first Gala with live attendees since the pandemic raged, and there was a strong air of excitement and fellowship throughout the day.
The event is also celebratory as ABWP’ s major fundraiser of the year. It is an opportunity for organizations and individuals to financially support the education of Black female physicians, who represent of 2 % of physicians nationally.
According to incoming President-elect and Gala event chair, Dr. Sheila Young-Mercado,“$ 65,000 in scholarships will be awarded to 13 students attending medical school. The total level of scholarship funds raised over the years has now exceeded $ 1 million. One of the persons who embodies the ABWP spirit is Dr. LaTanya Hines, Scholarship Committee Chair and a two-time scholarship recipient. She is a Silver Level sponsor of the event this year,” noted Dr. Young-Mercado.
The 13 scholarship recipients in the ABWP class of 2023 attend six universities: Charles R. Drew University’ s newly opened 4-year MD program, the joint CDU / UCLA medical education program, the UC Riverside and UC Irvine Schools of Medicine, USC’ s Keck School of Medicine, and the school of medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. CDU’ s 4-year MD program awardees were Sydney Y. K. Brown, Sabrina Montgomery, and Monika Watat. The joint CDU / UCLA medical program was represented by Ashley Appleton and Shami Iyabo-Mitchell.
Regarding the professional honorees, ABWP has consistently paid homage to significant awardees who often go unsung throughout the general community but whose work has been stellar in attacking primary healthcare challenges. This year’ s group is no different.
Dr. Javette C. Orgain was the first ABWP Lifetime Achievement awardee to be introduced. She is a family physician and retired Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Dr. Orgain is the 100th President of the National Medical Association and the first Black Speaker of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She is also Past President of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and Past President, Cook County Physicians’ Association.
Alongside her many accolades and triumphs, Dr. Orgain noted that her longstanding passion is mentoring the next generation of physicians. It is a way of paying forward for her numerous accomplishments.“ We all need mentoring in life,” she added.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 17