18 March 2007
An Evening Plenary on Gender Issues: Discourse & Dessert - Wellness as a Process: The Power of Prevention
Room: Hilton - Versailles Ballroom
Presenters: Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, M.D.
Marilyn Hughes Gaston, M.D., is one of the world's foremost experts on sickle cell disease. A physician and former Assistant surgeon General of the United states and recently retired Associate Administrator for the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) within the Health Resources and Services Administration, Dr. Gaston was the first African American woman to direct a Public Health Service Bureau. BPHC has total resources of close to five billion dollars and is responsible for improving access to quality, preventive, primary health care to millions of underserved, minority, underprivileged, disadvantaged people in the United states and its territories and improving the health status of ten million people.
Since retiring, Dr. Gaston is cofounder and codirector of the Gaston & Porter Health Improvement Center in Bethesda, MD. The center is a nonprofit service organization that provides information, materials, workshops, expertise, and personal/professional health development programs, customized to meet the needs of individuals, families, companies, organizations, and communities.
Dr. Gaston, along with her business partner Dr. Porter, was among the 2006 inaugural group of award recipients for the Purpose Prize. The Purpose Prize recognizes "social innovators" over the age of sixty who have demonstrated uncommon vision, determination, and entrepreneurialism in addressing community and national problems. Fifteen monetary awards will be made annually. Drs. Gaston and Porter received one of five $100,000 awards. The remaining ten awards are in the amount of $10,000 each.
Dr. Gaston is a much sought-after speaker on topics close to her heart: improving health care access and eliminating health disparities for vulnerable people, sickle cell disease, and the needs of young people (health and otherwise). in addition, she recently coauthored Prime Time: The African American Woman's Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness.
Her awards are numerous and include all awards in the Public Health service, the institution of Marilyn Hughes Gaston day in Cincinnati and Lincoln Heights, OH, and the Living Legend Award presented by the National Medical Association. Dr. Gaston is a member of the prestigious institute of Medicine of the National Academy of sciences. she received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Pennsylvania College of Pediatric Medicine and the daniel drake Medal, the highest award bestowed by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. In May 1999, Dr. Gaston received the scroll of Merit from the National Medical Association, its highest honor. Most recently, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine named a scholarship in Dr. Gaston's honor. two recipients each year will be selected from underprivileged and minority applicants to receive full, four-year medical school scholarships. The first Gaston scholars began medical school in September 1999. In May 2000, Dr. Gaston was awarded the prestigious American Medical Association's Dr. Nathan Davis Award in the category of Career Public service.
PowerPoint Slides
PowerPoint Slides
