MCN SepOct10_MCN SepOct10 9/15/10 12:45 PM Page 1 Volume 16, Issue 5 September/October 2010 streamlineThe Migrant Health News Source Distinguished Speakers at 2010 National Summit of Clinicians for Healthcare Justice By Robyn Northup eptember 23-25, 2010, marks the 2nd members of ethnic and racial minorities— of Cook County. She also practices internal SNational Summit of Clinicians for whose health needs had been treated with medicine at Woodlawn Health Center and is Healthcare Justice, co-sponsored by MCN, in silence. Dr. Satcher inspires us all to boldly an assistant professor at University of Illinois Washington, D.C. The event is a venue for communicate—against discomfort, stigma or at Chicago’s School of Public Health. frontline clinicians to deliver evidence-based attempts at censorship—all the information True to her commitment to bettering updates on primary care and public health that is needed to improve the public’s health outcomes for underserved and mar- theory, as well as a medium to interact with health,” said Julio Frank, Dean of the ginalized populations, Murray has main- participants from community, academic and Harvard School of Public Health, on confer- tained active and visible participation in the other backgrounds. The summit is a channel ring the School’s highest award on Dr. communities where she has lived and for clinicians to collaborate and raise their Satcher. worked throughout her career. From 1981 collective voice to bringing better health In 1998, Dr. Satcher was sworn in as the until 1983, Murray was part of the First outcomes to all, and will feature a myriad of 16th U.S. Surgeon General, serving until Congressional District of Illinois Health Task speakers who have dedicated their careers to 2002. During this term he simultaneously Force under Harold Washington. Over the making health care for the underserved a held the position of Assistant Secretary of course of her career, she has held the posi- reality. MCN has chosen to highlight speak- Health (1998-2001); he is the second person tions of Medical Director for the Manitoba ers Dr. David Satcher, Dr. Linda Rae Murray in history to have held both positions. Federation of Labour in Winnipeg, Canada, and Dr. Jack Geiger in this edition of Dr. Satcher has received numerous awards professor at Meharry Medical College, and Streamline. and honors, including the Jimmy and Medical Director of Near North Health Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Services Corporation. Dr. David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D, Contributions to the Health of Humankind, Dr. Murray is the recipient of many 16th U.S. Surgeon General and the National Association of Mental awards for her continued service in public Dr. David Satcher has realized great accom- Illness Distinguished Service Award. He was health, including the Daniel Hale Williams plishments in the field of public health the 2008-2009 recipient of the Julius B. Award from the Cook County Physician’s throughout his career. He is currently Richmond Award, the highest honor given Association and the Distinguished Service in Director of the Center of Excellence on by Harvard School of Public Health. the Health Field Award from the National Health Disparities and the Poussaint-Satcher- Association of Minority Medical Educators. Cosby Chair in Mental Health at Morehouse Dr. Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Starting this November, Dr. Linda Murray Dr. H. Jack Geiger, M.D., M.S. Dr. Satcher is most recognized for his will hold the president-elect position of the (Epidemiology), Sc. D. (Hon.) efforts on eliminating health disparities, American Public Health Association (APHA) Dr. H. Jack Geiger’s influential work in improving the sexual health of young people for one year. The advocacy and policy work human rights spans more than six decades. — including encouraging sexual health edu- of APHA—which focuses on rebuilding the In 1964, during Freedom Summer, Dr. cation in schools — and reducing the social nation’s public health infrastructure, ensur- Geiger began working in Mississippi as a stigma associated with mental illnesses. ing access to health care, and eliminating field coordinator for the Medical Committee Throughout his career, he has raised public health disparities—coincides with the efforts for Human Rights. There, Geiger saw the awareness of these conditions from a global of promoting health care as a basic human stark correlation between race and quality of perspective. right that Dr. Murray has put forth through- life in the state; the poverty of many of its “[He] has dedicated his life to the well- out her career. black residents was dramatically impacting being and dignity of all members of our Murray, a long-time Chicago healthcare their health. global community, including particularly vul- provider, is currently the chief medical officer Driven to address the injustice, Dr. Geiger nerable groups—persons suffering from of Primary Care & Community Health: mental disorders, sexually active youth, Ambulatory & Community Health Network continued on page 2 MCN SepOct10_MCN SepOct10 9/15/10 12:45 PM Page 2 n Distinguished Speakers continued from page 1 drew upon an experience from medical War, which received the Nobel Prize for and Dr. Matthew Keifer will give presenta- school: the months he had spent in Pholela, Peace in 1985. tions at this year’s summit. South Africa. There he had learned about Geiger is the author or co-author of more community health care firsthand, which than 100 scientific articles, book chapters References: inspired him to develop a similar project for and monographs. Among his numerous 1. Cooney, Elizabeth. (2010, April 12). Prescription: the United States. awards for his work on the problems of Education. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from: http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/ Based on an example from South Africa health care, human rights, and poverty, he 04/12/dr_h_jack_geiger_discusses_community and the contribution of Dr. Geiger, the Delta was awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of healthcentersandtheimportanceofeducation. Health Center was launched in Mound Science by the State University of New York 2. George Washington University Department of Bayou, Mississippi, in 1967. Care at the cen- at Purchase (1992) and by Case Western Health Policy. Dr. H. Jack Geiger. Retrieved from: ter encompassed more than the clinical; staff Reserve University (2000); the Award for http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/ focused on the social problems undermining Academic Leadership in Primary Care, healthpolicy/ggprogram/geiger.cfm health in the region, such as hunger and National Center for Primary Care, 3. Harvard School of Public Health. (2009). Former unemployment. To ensure that members of Morehouse School of Medicine (2003); and Surgeon General David Satcher Receives Richmond Award for Work on Disparities, Mental the community could participate in decisions the first Award for Excellence of the Illness, and Improving Sexual Health of Youth. about their health and the future of the area, American Public Health Association for Retrieved from local people served on the clinic’s board and “exceptionally meritorious achievement in http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/ some joined its staff. From the birth of this improving the health of the American peo- 2009-releases/former-surgeon-general-david-satcher- receives-richmond-award-for-work-on-disparities- clinic and another in Boston, MA, the net- ple” (1973). mental-illness-and-improving-sexual-health-of- work of Community Health Centers has youth.html today expanded nationwide. MCN is honored to co-sponsor talks by 4. Howard, Kate. (2010, January 28). Theme Dr. Geiger is the Arthur C. Logan these clinicians and human rights activists at Honoring Dr. Linda Rae Murray: ‘You Can’t Be Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine, the 2010 Summit of Clinicians for Healthcare What You Can’t See. MedIll Reports, Chicago. City University of New York Medical School, Justice. In addition to the aforementioned Retrieved from http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/ a founding member and Past President of speakers, distinguished clinicians Dr. Alvin chicago/news.aspx?id=155053 Physicians for Human Rights—which shared D. Jackson, Maria E. Rosa, Dr. Eduardo J. 5. National Library of Medicine. Against the Odds: Community Health. Retrieved from: in the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1998—as Sanchez, Dr. Winston F. Wong, Dr. Margaret http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds/exhibit/ well as a founding member and past presi- Flowers, Vice Admiral Dr. Richard H. community_health/common_ground.cfm dent of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Carmona, , Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders, Dr. C. 6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: and the Committee for Health in South Everett Koop, Elaine S. Scott, RN, PhD, NE- Office of the Surgeon General (2007). Retrieved Africa. He is the U.S. affiliate of International BC, Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD, MS, Dr. from: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/ Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear Ana M. Viamonte Ros, Dr. Ron J. Anderson, youthviolence/satcher.htm Alan Pogue © MCN staff and board at the 2008 National Summit of Clinicians for Heatlhcare Justice 2 MCN Streamline MCN SepOct10_MCN SepOct10 9/15/10 12:45 PM Page 3 Potential Health Outcomes of Being Undocumented and Homeless: Stories from the Field Maggie Sullivan, FNP omeless persons who are also unau- who feared he would be killed if he apartment. He became homeless many Hthorized immigrants face a reality of remained in his country because of his years ago and stays outside or in a shelter. extreme marginalization, putting them at father’s association with the government. He came into my care shortly after being significant physical and mental health risk. When he arrived to the U.S. he was young, assaulted while drinking, and the injuries he As a family nurse practitioner working in alone, spoke no English and had a 6th- sustained have now evolved into chronic shelter-based clinics, I regularly care for grade education.