2007-2008
Welcome to the Official Website of the Auxiliary to the National Medical Association, Inc. (ANMA). It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to serve as the 69th President of the Auxiliary for 2007-2008. My platform for the ANMA this year is AHEAD—Advancing Health, Enterprise, and the American Dream. Health is at the nexus, at the heart of achieving Enterprise and the American Dream. We will continue to strengthen our communities through Health Education, Legislation, Prevention, Awareness and Advocacy programs A leadership planning conference for the ANMA Board of Directors will be held in Arlington, Virginia, October 19-21, 2007 to complete and kick off our program year of service to our communities and to address the following ANMA programs and activities, which will be emphasized and implemented by the ANMA membership.
Healthy Families Program:
Several local affiliates throughout the six regions of the Auxiliary will develop their healthy family programs. It is well documented that obesity is a major problem of African-Americans and may indeed be one of the major reasons why African Americans are disproportionately represented in a host of disease/conditions. Over nine million children are classified as overweight, and the ANMA is committed to educating parents and children on how to live healthy life styles.
African American elected officials, leaders in the public and private sectors, ministers, educators, and parents will be involved in these programs with a charge to foster improved health and lifestyle choices for African-American children and their families. We must minimize health disparities, address what can and must be done by specific groups to reverse trends. The Auxiliary believes that informed youth can and must lead the way to healthier communities.
Legislative Program:
Voter registration drives in our minority communities are vital. We need to be one of the leaders in the struggle to get out the vote, working with minority groups such as – NAACP, Urban League, The Black Women’s Agenda, National Council of Negro Women, Links, Sororities, Fraternities and other National Organizations, etc., particularly with the youth and in minority and underserved communities. At least one voter registration drive should be held by the local chapters before the National elections.
National Membership Drive:
As I view the necessity to grow our membership ranks, it is my hope to get each active member of the ANMA to outreach to at least one friend, family member or colleague whose spouse is in the NMA and get a commitment with follow through to have that individual join. Another element of the drive is to actively recruit the spouses of our minority female physicians through our ‘Men of the ANMA’ campaign. My GOAL is to double our ranks within a year. Please help us meet this important goal.
National African American Youth Initiative (NAAYI) Scholars Program:
ANMA will sponsor its 18th annual program for qualifying African-American high school youth, from all over the USA and the US Virgin Islands. The program is designed to expose youth to scientific research, health policy studies and the decision-making process; to expand leadership skills and cultural development; provide insight into the 200 careers in health; and enroll each scholar into the ANMA/NAAYI Mentorship Program. Through this mentorship program, the scholars will be tracked to follow their progress in the academic pipeline. Approximately 75 students will participate in this two (2) week residential program, June 2008. Financial Auxiliary and NMA member’s nominations are encouraged.
Project Sun:
ANMA will implement its annual program for youth (the NAAYI/Project SUN Youth Health Forum) at the ANMA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, July 28, 2008. Local youth groups will join the NMA/ANMA youth registrants for this forum.
Scholarships:
ANMA will provide its annual contribution of at least $20,000.00 in scholarships to medical school students through the Alma Wells Givens (Founder) Scholarship Fund and to nursing school students through the Mason-Bisson Scholarship Fund. For 59 years sophomore students enrolled in the following medical schools: 1) Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, 2) Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, most recently 3) Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California; and 4) Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, have received these awards.
Advocacy and Educational Activities:
ANMA has worked since our inception in 1936 to eliminate health disparities in our communities. We will maintain our legacy of providing needed healthcare education through healthcare forums for our communities, specifically targeting the underserved. With your help and dedication, we can make a difference and will continue our programs through “Advancing Health, Enterprise, and the American Dream. ”, “Project AHEAD”.
ANMA will continue its work in advocacy activities related to health insurance for all children, reducing infant mortality, medical liability insurance reform for physicians, and breast and prostate cancer screening. ANMA is looking forward to an exciting and productive year as we work together to implement our programs. I ask each of you personally to please join our team as we make a difference in the lives of individuals and build bridges across America to realize the objectives of Project AHEAD. Thank you for joining us. We sincerely need you and your expertise.
With God’s Blessings for a most productive year,
Ruth V. Creary
President
