By: Tony Flood Date: 11/5/09
Last week, my good friend Dr. Regina Benjamin was confirmed as the next Surgeon General of the U.S. It means a lot to me to share my perspective on an individual that is close and dear to me – just like a family member or even a sister. What an unbelievable honor to be bestowed on an individual who for so many reasons is perhaps the most ideal person for that position.
Regina and I met many years ago at an Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse Practitioners. She and I were together on a food safety panel. While I proceeded to talk about physicians attitudes towards food safety, she was clearly viewed as an expert whose knowledge and advice was critical for this allied health professional community on a number of issues beyond food safety including diabetes, critical care and a whole lot more.
Since then, we’ve kept in touch; met for lunches and shared experiences on a number of issues like outreach to underserved audiences – something that is near and dear to us here at the International Food Information Council Foundation as well. One thing that always struck me was that she was in constant contact with her patients or their caregivers. They had her cell phone and she always took their calls. She still inspires me today to be attentive to everyone around me.
Others have taken notice of her skills and knowledge as well. Here are just a few accolades that have been bestowed upon her:
- First African-American woman to hold an influential post with the American Medical Association (AMA) – and under 40 at that;
- Past president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama;
- Served on the Board of Trustees of the Federation of State Medical Boards;
- Honored by several well known media outlets – CBS, Time Magazine, ABC News, Readers Digest – you get the picture . .
Beyond the accolades, Regina is founder of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama. The clinic was destroyed at least two times – once by fire, the other by Hurricane Katrina. Each time Regina has had the passion and will to rebuild and to help serve those in need of decent medical care. That’s why I admire Regina – for her will to help others at a level that’s rare in today’s society. I know this characteristic will serve her well as the next Surgeon General of the U.S. Please join me and the entire Foundation family in supporting her in this role and to say “Congratulations!”