The cool fall evening and crisp air assured those present to an elegant evening.  On October 13th, 2007 over 300 guests gathered in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Association of Black Women Physicians’ 26th Annual Charity and Scholarship our 27th Annual Charity and Scholarship Benefit appropriately headlining as Women in Medicine; Symbols of Inspiration; Lifting One Sister at a Time. 

The night’s honorees were Alexa Canady, M.D., First Black Female Neuro-Surgeon in the United States, who received the ABWPs distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and John Hope Bryant, CEO and president of Operation Hope who received the coveted Humanitarian of the Year Award.  Honorary guests were the first Black Mrs. United States 2007, Stephanie Hunt and Los Angeles 8th District councilman, Bernard Parks.  The mistress of ceremonies was Niecy Nash who utilized her signature entertainment talents to have everyone feel relaxed and welcomed.

The program included performances by the Abalaye African Dance Ensemble accompanied by djembe specialized drumming and guided by the artistic director Djangewali.  During an exquisite dinner, the RAW Sugar Quintet, a group organized by the nationally acclaimed physician and cardiologist Richard Allen Williams, M.D provided a cool jazz background.   The exquisite program book cover was designed by the well known featured artist Frank Morrison, who created an artwork specifically for the event.

The perfect coordination of the night was accomplished by the team efforts of a special our 27th Annual Charity and Scholarship Benefit committee headed by president-elect, LaTanya Hines, M.D.  Physicians went beyond their heavily committed schedules to guarantee a great event.  The décor was enhanced and made exquisite by Karen Ellis, M.D. whose artistic gifts were displayed in the floral and African inspired centerpieces.  She provided an atmosphere filled with ancient African artifacts; musical instruments; masks; and carvings. 

The dress for the evening was African/Black Tie optional.  Men and women adorned their breathtaking attires from Ethiopia; Senegal; Mali; Nigeria; Kenya; Nigeria; Ivory Coast; Somalia; Ghana and more.  The head pieces worn by the attendees were captivating.  All felt they were amidst royalty who were there to acknowledge great feats of the well deserved.   

The crescendo was the presentation of scholarships to eight young Black female medical students.  The field of competition was heavily filled with others in regard to accomplishments; outstanding academic achievements; community volunteerism; and innovative health initiatives.   These women indeed were the best of the best.  The 2007 scholarship recipients were respectively as follows:

Ersne Eromo-Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science/UCLA

Sophia T. Ghebremicael-Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Phoebe G. Griffin-University of Kansas School of Medicine

Kimberly F. Simms-Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

Randi N. Smith-University of California at San Francisco

Rachel I. White-David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Latoyia T. Wilson-Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science/UCLA

Two awardees received additional scholarships for their added contributions to the health care fields.  The Carmen Parrott, M.D. Community Service Award in honor the late Carmen Parrott, MD went to Tyisha L. Seymour.  The Jessie L. Sherrod, M.P.H., M.D. Founder’s Leadership Award was given to Ersne Eromo.

These eight young women represented the promise of a bright future of medicine. The ABWP was honored and humbled by their devotion to the health care field.

The evening concluded with dancing to the sounds of Kerry Neal, Good Boy Entertainment.  Special acknowledgement goes out to Michael Teta Associates, the Event Coordinator.

The emphasis of many of the speeches for the night was the significance and goal of national expansion in 2008.  Calendared events included scheduled conference type meetings such as general meetings; cruises and planned events with the intent of inviting physicians throughout the country.  Please note our tentative 2008 posted calendar of events.

Annual Review:

The 2007 president, Roberta Doucet, M.D. noted the many accomplishments throughout the year.  The notable progress has included:

• Weighting 2 Exhale workshop addressing the crisis of obesity
• Beauty and Health Symposium
• HIV Education for Physicians and Update
• Canyon Ranch:  Health and Wellness
• Combined Black Women Physicians and Black Women Lawyer Symposium
• Sister to Sister gathering at the Getty Museum
• Strategic Planning and Medical Conference concluding with a Jazz Brunch Cruise
• Professional Mixer with close to 400 professionals present
• The 25th Silver Anniversary Celebration
• Further development of our website
• Online membership application available
• Credit card payment online
• Development of our PulsePoint newsletter
• Hiring of a program developer
• Acquisition of a California Community Foundation Grant for implementation of a Wellness Series of health workshops targeting individuals and families in underserved communities

Due to expansion and demands of our association the PulsePoint news letter will be released during the following months:  December; March; June; and September.  A special edition will be available in the month of January 2008 due to the specific goals of national outreach.

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Our featured physician for this month is the Association of Black Women Physicians’ president-elect, LaTanya Hines, M.D.  If you are a physician member and wish to be featured in our special January newsletter please submit your picture along with her bio on our website area on the “contact us” tab.

Biography

Dr. La Tanya Hines is a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist currently practicing in Pasadena, California. She is the CEO of Girlfriends Medical Group, Inc. a private practice catering to the needs of women throughout Southern California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psycho-Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Thereafter, she received her doctorate of Medicine from the University of California, Irvine, and College of Medicine. She completed her surgical internship at the University of Southern California. Her extensive training and experience in obstetrics and gynecology was obtained from the well-known King-Drew Medical Center in Wilmington, California.

Dr. Hines is a well-known speaker, motivator and clinician in the Pasadena and greater Los Angeles region. Her passion is in giving back to the community through education and research. Currently, Dr. Hines is a principal researcher with the NIH on the side-effects of oral contraceptives with new users. Her many lectures have included menopause, cervical cancer and the effects of obesity in pregnancy.

Dr. Hines, serves on the board of maternal-fetal medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital, the only level-1 trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley, where she has exclusive admitting privileges. She sees many High-Risk obstetrical patients in this capacity as well as routine OB and Gyn patients. She remains an active part of several organizations including, the LA OBGYN Society, CMA, National Medical Association, Los Angeles County Medical Association and currently serves as the President-Elect for the Association of Black Women Physicians.  Dr. Hines also serves as the Southern California physician representative for the advisory board to The Doctor’s Company. In this capacity, Dr. Hines represents over 1 million OBGYN physicians in this administrative capacity.

Despite her many activities, Dr. Hines shares her family life with Mr. Darrick Hines to whom she has been married for over 12 years. She has two lovely children, Jalen age 9 and Kaila age 7. They all enjoy a very active life, playing football, bike riding and running.

2007/2008 Schedule of Events

November 8, 2007
General Meeting/Nomination of Candidates-Los Angeles
for 2008 Executive Board

December 7, 2007
Annual Christmas Party and Toy Drive
In Partnership with the Los Angeles MBAs
Renaissance Montura Hotel
Los Angeles, California

January 2008
Weighting 2 Exhale  1/26/08
Installation of Officers 1/20/08

February 2008
Sister to Sister/Women & Water (Fowler Museum)

March 2008
Membership Drive/Strategic Planning
Color Purple/Theater Night

April 2008
ABWP & BWL Joint Symposium

May 2008
General Meeting (National Membership Drive)

TBA
Cabo San Lucas Physician’s Cruise

July 2008
Golf Tournament

August 2008
NMA Convention (Atlanta)
African Marketplace & Culture Faire
Sister to Sister Tea

September 2008
General Meeting
Membership Drive
Beauty and Health Symposium

October 2008
Breast Awareness Month
Annual Charity Scholarship our 27th Annual Charity and Scholarship Benefit

Areas of emphasis of the year:

• Building membership base both locally and nationally
• Inclusion of all members and reaching out to other physicians
• Increasing scholarship funds
• Strengthening Infra-structure
• Furthering the establishment of an association advisory council
• Embracing the concept of the big picture
• Furthering grant development and acquisitioning funds
• Building of a membership packet that includes discounted group benefits to members such
   as group disability for physicians and long term care benefits for physicians
• Web site enhancement; PR packet finalizing
• Network council continuance and mentoring tracking