Fifty-one of Alabama’s 55 rural counties have a shortage of primary care physicians. Many of these rural counties have a large percentage of African Americans in their populations.
To deal with the shortage, nine historically Black colleges and universities in the state are forming an alliance to increase the number of minorities seeking careers in the healthcare field. The alliance is being organized by Louis Sullivan, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and president emeritus of the Morehouse School of Medicine.
HBCUs participating in the alliance are Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, J.F. Drake Technical College, Miles College, Oakwood University, Selma University, Stillman College, Trenholm State Technical College, and Tuskegee University.
I congratulate Louis Sullivan on his bold, necessary and timely initiative. It is desperately needed!
Why stop with African-Americans in Alabama?
African-Americans in Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and other states need it, too.
Historically Black colleges and universities in these, and other states should come together, as Louis Sullivan has done in Alabama.
The time is now! Medicaid Extension will begin in January 2014. We need to ensure that we have trained health care workers in place to give our people the quality of health care they need and deserve.
Last April I did a statistical breakdown of the needs of African-American population in South Carolina and sent it to Pastors. It included health care issues.
I can discuss what I have done with interested parties. My email address is SPDelsol@gmail.com
I worked with and for Dr. Sullivan when he started the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. This program WILL BE A SUCCESS. Dr. Sullivan is a gifted, talented, generous human being. It was both my privilege and pleasure to have served on his staff and I became a better person because of our professional relationship. He had pride, confidence, intellect, experience which he gave to all our students and they reflect his teachings in their practice of medicine throughout the southeast and our nation. I retired but not Dr. Sullivan…he continues to give of himself and his many many gifts/talents. God Bless Him.
Congratulations. This is an excellent start. I hope that these institutions will not disappoint him.