February 8, 2008
Two
events celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was recognized
across the country Jan. 21, both the MGH and Partners HealthCare celebrated
the civil rights leader's legacy through speeches, musical performances
and special events.
The MGH event, sponsored by the Association of Multicultural Members of
Partners (AMMP) and the Multicultural Affairs Office (MAO), took place
Jan. 18 in the East Garden Room. Shea Sherrod Asfaw, project director
for MGH Strategic Planning and chair of AMMP, welcomed the audience and
spoke of King's legacy in terms of today's youth: "We must work to
make sure that everyone, especially our youth, feel invested in their
futures and the future of the world they live in."
Next, Peter L. Slavin, MD, MGH president, compared the MGH's founding
ideals to those embraced by King. With the hospital's bicentennial only
three years away, Slavin encouraged MGHers to preserve the spirit of willingness
to serve all who are in need. "There is much more we and others have
to do to help realize Dr. King's dream," he said. The event's keynote
speaker, Jackie Jenkins-Scott, president of Wheelock College, also spoke
of King's legacy and her experience working with area youth. "Simply
by providing support and information, we can connect the dots for the
youth of today," she said. "Dr. King's vision is not nearly
as far off as it seems." The celebration opened and concluded with
performances by the Voices of MGH choir.
The Partners-sponsored event at the MGH took place Feb. 1 in the Richard
B. Simches Research Center. There, Slavin spoke of MGH initiatives, such
as the Disparities Solutions Center and MAO's Underrepresented Minority
Student Mentorship Program, which exemplify King's vision. Slavin then
introduced Carlyene Prince-Erickson, director of MGH Employee Education
and Leadership Development, who recognized the MGH's three YMCA Black
Achievers for 2007: Luc Dumornay, operations manager for Environmental
Services; Michelle McDonald, insurance specialist for MGH Radiology/Clinical
Support Services; and Karen Osborne, senior administrative manager for
Research in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and Surgical Oncology
at the MGH Cancer Center; and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's Black
Achiever, Michele Belizaire, RN, Rehabilitation Unit charge nurse.
After an encore performance by the Voices of MGH, journalist and social
commentator Juan Williams delivered the keynote address. Williams imagined
what King would say if he were alive today, using this image to critique
American society, which he perceives as having strayed from King's vision.
Nevertheless, he expressed hope in the country's ability "to stand
tall in this crucial moment in American history." Williams encouraged the audience to utilize the MGH as
a platform to effect social change and concluded by remarking that it
is the responsibility of the individual to embody King's ideals.
For information about AMMP, access www.massgeneral.org/ammp.
For information about MAO, access www.massgeneral.org/mao.
From left, Asfaw; Thomas Glynn, Partners
chief operating officer; Williams; Matt Fishman, Partners vice president
of Community Health; Akin Demehin, administrative director for the Center
for Quality and Safety and AMMP vice chair; Deborah Washington, RN, MS,
PhDc, director of Diversity for Patient Care Services; and Michael Watkins,
MD, director of the Vascular Surgery Research Laboratory and member of
the MAO Advisory Board