2006 African American History Calendar
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25th Anniversary Edition Anniversary 25th Life. Celebrating History Calendar History 2006 African American American African 2006 of healthful outcomes. healthful of Empowering a lifetime lifetime a Empowering 2006 African American History Calendar Yvonne T. Maddox, Ph.D. Betty S. Pace, M.D. Michael A. LeNoir, M.D. Rovenia Brock, Ph.D. January • Birth/Infant February • First Years March • Preteen April • Teen “The Three Doctors” Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., M.P.H. B. Waine Kong, Ph.D., J.D. May • Teen June • Young Adult July • Young Adult August • Adult LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. James Whitfield Reed, M.D., M.A.C.P., F.A.C.E. Sharon Allison-Ottey, M.D. Dexter L. Campinha-Bacote, M.D. September • Adult October • Senior November • Senior December • All Stages of Life ©2005 Aetna Inc. 16544 12/13/05 4:18 PM Page 1 Page PM 4:18 12/13/05 16544 16544 12/13/05 4:18 PM Page 2 The Aetna 2006 African American History Calendar celebrates all stages By leveraging their own circles of influence, those profiled here are working of life — from early childhood to middle age to older age — with advice, in many ways to make a difference. They are role models who teach healthful messages and important perspectives from respected African individuals how to address and overcome health care challenges that are American health care professionals throughout the country. more predominant in their communities. When individuals are empowered to take control of their own health care, ultimately there are more healthful Ensuring that health care remains a top priority is paramount to improving the outcomes. overall health of African Americans. Through the wisdom, determination and tenacity of the 14 health care professionals featured in this calendar, healthier With this edition, Aetna celebrates its 25th anniversary of bringing to life and more educated communities are being created each and every day. visionaries and the contributions they have made. We are honored to profile this elite group of health care professionals, who have dedicated their lives Maya Angelou once said, Aetna acknowledges the health care challenges that are more prevalent in the and professions to teaching African Americans how to best care for themselves African American community, from infant mortality to sickle cell disease, from and their families. Please join us on this journey as we celebrate life. “Nothing will work unless poor nutrition to asthma, from diabetes to cancer; and the Aetna 2006 African you do.” American History Calendar profiles those individuals who emphasize education and prevention. Good health care is central to maintaining a richly balanced and productive life that works efficiently. It is particularly essential in the Celebrating Life. early years to ensure a healthful start for newborns, and it should Featured Inside: continue through the elder years January Birth/Infant SIDS with wholesome habits to enrich February First Years Sickle Cell Disease March Preteen Asthma and prolong life. April Teen Nutrition May Teen Teens at Risk June Young Adult HIV and AIDS July Young Adult Tobacco Control August Adult Cardiovascular Disease September Adult Cancer October Senior Diabetes November Senior Senior Health December All Stages of Life Healthful Living Calendars Through 25 Years of Calendar History the Decades Since 1982, Aetna’s African American History Calendar has featured African From nurse leaders to dentists, physicians to surgeons, pharmacists to medical American role models whose vision, intellect and heart have, in countless ways, specialists, the 2002 through 2005 calendars profiled African Americans who shaped what our country is today. More than 300 individuals — pioneers in fields are inspired and energized to create healthy communities. These health care such as business, government, athletics, science, education, medicine and the arts professionals have mastered the ability to turn complex details into useful, — have been featured in the calendar. understandable and culturally competent information that individuals can integrate into their lives. From Jackie Robinson, who changed the face of baseball forever, to Elijah McCoy, praised inventor who was the inspiration for the phrase “the real McCoy,” from 2006: Celebrating Life 1984 Earl G. Graves, founder and publisher of Black Enterprise magazine, to television Continuing in its recent tradition to center on health matters, Aetna’s 2006 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. news anchor Robin Roberts — all of the individuals featured in the calendars calendar features a lifeline that examines health issues that may affect African have demonstrated great strength, perseverance and grace in succeeding in their Americans at each stage of life — from early childhood to middle age to older chosen fields. age. Throughout this calendar, readers will be introduced to 14 passionate health care professionals — including the motivational “Three Doctors,” By showcasing outstanding individuals who have achieved greatness in their recognized by Oprah Winfrey as the “premier role models of the world” — respective careers and lives, young and old alike get a glimpse of future possibilities. who are devoted to ensuring that fellow African Americans have the opportunity to cherish and celebrate life each and every day. 1982 – 1989: Equality and Civil Rights The 1982 through 1989 calendars featured individuals whose work for equality and civil rights — from the Civil War to present day — has shaped our conscience 1990 and paved the way to a more just society. Regardless of background, heroes such Louis Armstrong as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth risked their lives so future generations would be free. Others such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Arthur Alfonso Schomburg and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked to both unite African Americans and document their history. Reaching back in time, African Americans have played critically important roles in shaping 1990 – 2001: The Love of Profession American history. Today, African Americans In the 1990s and into the new millennium, the calendars focused on specific themes — music, arts, education, health, food and nutrition, business enterprise — continue to inspire traditions, influence culture and highlighted prominent African Americans’ contributions in these areas. Today, and create legacies that make our world a we listen to the jazz licks of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, read the medical research 2003 Frances E. Ashe-Goins, R.N., M.P.H. of Dr. Alvin Poussaint and legal opinions of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice better place. Alan Page, marvel at the robotics expertise of Dr. Bartholomew Nnaji, and enjoy the theatrical artistry of Denzel Washington and James Earl Jones. These individuals For the past 25 years, Aetna has produced the and many others have realized soaring accomplishments through their love of profession, a strong belief system and a devotion to work for the common good. African American History Calendar as an annual tribute to the extraordinary contributions and 2002 – 2005: Health Care Disparities Beginning in 2002, the calendar became an important vehicle for honoring African educational endeavors of African Americans in Americans determined to address and reform the most pressing health concerns of our country. the African American community, including infant mortality, sickle cell disease, heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Each calendar has focused on the 21st-century objective — to encourage greater awareness and close the racial www.aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com and ethnic divide in health care quality. 16544 12/13/05 4:18 PM Page 3 When an infant dies suddenly after birth, parents need to understand why. When answers to these sometimes difficult questions are hard to come by, the loss can be even more inexplicable and devastating. Yvonne T. Maddox, Ph.D. “Infant mortality is defined as the death of a child before his Deputy Director of the National Institute of or her first birthday, and in recent years, the infant mortality rate in the U.S. has been declining. But we must do better,” Child Health and Human Development, said Dr. Yvonne T. Maddox. “In the U.S., the infant mor- tality rate is seven deaths per every 1,000 births. That’s 27,000 National Institutes of Health infant deaths per year. And in the African American community, the figures are twice as high – 14 deaths per every 1,000 births.” Residence: Upper Marlboro, Maryland Several factors can cause infant mortality, including congenital abnormalities and birth defects; prematurity and low birth weight; acute respiratory distress syndrome; infections; and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby. Despite its prevalence, the exact cause is still unknown. “I strongly believe SIDS is developmental,” Maddox said. “It’s the leading cause of death in babies after 1 month, but most SIDS deaths occur under 6 months of age.” According to Maddox, recent research connects some instances of SIDS to the area of the brain that helps control breathing and awakening during sleep. If this area is underdeveloped in a baby who becomes tangled in loose bedding, the baby may not be signaled to turn his or her head for oxygen and may, therefore, suffocate. “It is imperative that babies are positioned Dream on their backs while sleeping – even while napping – to reduce the risk of suffocation,” Maddox said. However, the culture and traditions many African Americans were handed down encourage parents to place babies on their stomachs to sleep, said Maddox. Some are afraid babies will choke or regurgitate and then suffocate if they’re placed on their backs, and some believe babies will develop flat spots on the backs of their heads from sleeping on their backs. Maddox said both are highly unlikely. “Through our ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign, we’ve created Infant Mortality culturally competent materials that take these traditions into account, while raising SIDS awareness in African American “Parents want to keep their babies safe, communities,” said Maddox.