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The Milwaukee Times Weekly
Cream City Medical Society (Continued from pg. 38) The Cream City Neighborhood Health Center was established in 1972 to provide essential health care services to the central city. This was a result of a collaborative effort between Mr. Jay Gilmer (Dr. Prather J. Gilmer’s son), Dean Hirschboeck of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance and others. CCMS provided essential support for this crucial though shortlived effort. The Medical College of Wisconsin (formerly Marquette Medical College) provided training in the 1970’s for the following physicians who practiced in Milwaukee: Dr. Roy Troutman (psychiatrist), Cassandra Pollard-Welch (internist), and Dr. William Walker* (family medicine). Dr. Lauree Thomas trained at the University of Wisconsin and later began Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Thomas was a CCMS president for a number of years who was instrumental in providing a partnership with the Medical College that resulted in thousands of dollars being donated to defray the cost of training African American medical students. She created several programs that helped African American students perform academically at a high level. It was also during her tenure that the Dr. Terrance Thomas* Scholarship was started. Dr. Thomas was a obstetrics and gynecology resident training in Michigan when he suffered an untimely death. His parents, Patricia O’FlynnPattillo and Robert Thomas, owners and publishers of the Milwaukee Community Journal started the scholarship in the memory of their beloved son. Dr. Estil Strawn, Jr. (obstetrician-gynecologist) followed his father, Dr. Estil Strawn, Sr.* and became Wisconsin’s first African American Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist. Dr. Strawn, Jr. is an associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Alonzo Walker (general surgeon) is a past CCMS president. He is a nationally known breast cancer surgeon with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Harvard Medical School trained the following Milwaukee physicians: Dr. James Flowers (internist), Dr. M. Eugene Pruitt (internist), Dr. Earnestine Willis (pediatrician). Dr. Flowers was the first African American chief medical resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. He wrote a book used by students worldwide to prepare for admission to medical school.
Thursday, February 27, 2014 - Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Dr. Willis is the current director of the Center for the Urban Child and was an associate dean for the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Sheri Johnson (child and adolescent psychologist) is our current state public health officer. The 1980’s saw further advances for Milwaukee’s African American physicians practicing Internal Medicine, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics, and other specialties. At St. Luke’s Hospital in 1985, Dr. James Bass* (cardiovascular surgeon) became the first African American to perform open heart surgery. From the far reaches of Ghana West Africa came to train at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Dr. Nana Grant-Acquah who became our first cardiac anesthesiologist. Dr. M. Eugene Pruitt is a past president of CCMS. He arrived in Milwaukee in 1980 to fulfill his requirements for the National Health Service Corps. He opened his first practice located at 12th and North Avenue. He was appointed full-time assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2001. Dr. Richard Evans, another Meharry Medical College graduate is our first peripheral vascular surgeon. Two well know African American women psychologists are members of CCMS, Dr. Juliette Martin-Thomas, and Dr. Lula F. Reams. Both are licensed psychologists and National Health Service providers. Dr. MartinThomas completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin and became one of the first female African Americans to practice psychology in Wisconsin. She has over twenty years experience in the Criminal Justice System, including working at Waupun State Prison for 14 years. She is currently a professor in the department of psychology at Alverno College and The Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology. She continues an active private psychotherapy practice. She has received many community awards for her volunteer work. The Wisconsin Correctional Association established the Dr. Juliette Martin-Thomas Award in her honor and Mount Mary College awarded her its prestigious Pro Urbe Award. Dr. Lula F. Reams completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, and the Milwaukee Clinicians of Color among other professional organizations. She is also a certified Marriage and Family Therapist. She specializes in psychological testing and has an independent practice. She has also been a community activist and received many community awards.
The Isaac Coggs Clinic, which started as a free public health center, was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It was supported by the Medical College of Wisconsin and UWM in the 1960s. During the 1990’s, Dr. Cassandra Welch, an Internist and past CCMS President, became the Medical Director of Isaac Coggs Health Connection, a federally qualified health center. The services of the clinic grew under her leadership. Physiatry became available when Dr. Carla Wright arrived from Detroit and joined the staff of the Isaac Coggs Health Connection along with Dr. Welch, Dr. Troutman. Dr. Wright, is the first African American physiatrist in the state and former Vice President of CCMS. Many CCMS members began their professional careers at the clinic. The clinic continues to expand and includes a dental clinic, WIC program, pediatrics, women’s health, urgent care, HIV treatment and prevention educational services, radiology and pharmacy. The 1990’s were not only important for the increase in the number of Af-
rican American doctors in Milwaukee but also for the broader spectrum of specialties represented for the first time such as cardiology (Dr. Cheryl Martin, dermatology, emergency medicine (Dr. Andrea Greene, pulmonary medicine (Dr. Jerry Jones), pediatric otolaryngology (Dr. Valerie Flanary), rheumatology (Dr. Alvin Wells), and pain management (Pamela Thomas-King and Dr. George King). Dr. Joan Prince, is a specialist in hematology and flow cytometry and is currently the Vice Chancellor for Partnerships and Innovation, clinical associate professor-College of Health Sciences, the Unversity of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Our current president, Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson, came to Milwaukee in the 1990s and is our first board certified foot and ankle podiatric surgeon. She has taught podiatry for the Scholl’s Podiatric Medicine University, had a private solo practice and now works for Aurora Health Care. More than 100 years since the first African American physician arrived and 80
years since Cream City Medical Society was established, there are more than 100 African American medical professionals in Milwaukee. Through the efforts of many of these physicians, resolving health care disparities has become their priority now joined by participation of city, the state, the nation, and the world. The 21st century has found CCMS members engaged in a wide variety of political and social endeavors including local, state, and national committees, subcommittees, task forces, town hall meetings, and community brainstorming conferences. They have collaborated with UWM and other community agencies to address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: Closing the Gap. Another involvement is The Healthiest Wisconsin 2010: A Partnership Plan to Improve the Health of the Public, a framework for transforming the state health plan for the 21st century. Dr. Juliette Martin and Dr. Wayman Parker have been active in this initiative. A number of CCMS physicians have participated in The 4th Street Forum, a nonpartisan program for public discussion of political and social issues and the exploration of solutions. These are just a small sampling of their numerous professional and volunteer activities Dr. Wayman Parker and other CCMS physicians are currently involved in operating a free clinic, The C.H. Mason Clinic, on the campus of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, along with their parish nurse, Lisa Neal, RN. and Mbili Waller. Dr. Parker has assumed the leadership role in this initiative, getting it up and running as well as seeing patients. As the clinic patient load increases, more CCMS physicians will be involved on a rotating schedule. Current CCMS president, Dr. Rene’ Settle-Robinson has been extremely active proudly representing this organization locally and nationally. Her achievements are many. She recently spoke in front of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee to support “Healthy Wisconsin.” A few years ago, she ran for political office, seeking the State Assembly Seat in District 12. She obtain 44 percent of the vote in the primary. She is a lifetime member of the NAACP and continues to represent health professionals and presenting the health care needs of the people of color. Dr. Natasha Travis, current vice president of CCMS, is actively involved in community outreach. She is an advocate for persons living with HIV/ AIDS. She also supports early screening and treatment options for patients with any other disease. She has spearheaded the annual
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National HIV Testing Day Event, “Take the Test, Take Control.” The CCMS goals for this event are to facilitate increased community awareness of HIV/AIDS, provide free, rapid HIV testing and educational resources. Dr. Travis is an assistant professor, department of medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Kevin Izard (family medicine), assistant professor, Medical College of Wisconsin and Dr. Alicia N. Walker (Walgreen’s, Co.), our first doctor of pharmacy) serves on the Wisconsin Medicaid Pharmacy Prior Authorization Committee. They have received a commendation from Governor Doyle for their contributions. CCMS endowed the Dr. Terrance N. Thomas Scholarship Fund to provide support to African American students at the Medical College of Wisconsin. We are greatful to the contributions of the parents of Dr. Terrance Thomas, friends, CCMS members, MCW faculty and staff. Over $100,000 of this scholarship money has come from CCMS fundraising events and the meticulous administration of the Medical College of Wisconsin Foundation. According to Dr. Rene’ Settle-Robinson, “This scholarship fund is the largest single endowed scholarship fund for African American physicians built by an African American medical organization in the country.” The proceeds from the CCMS 75th anniversary celebration were used to establish the Legacy Scholarship Foundation. These scholarships are for the recognition of students from elementary through graduate school planning to attend medical school. The CCMS Undergraduate Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers students academic, social, moral, and cultural support. The Chapter is set up to make sure students continue to dream; establish and accomplish goals, and to mold their environment. Students are provided with tutoring, mentoring, career services, study sessions, academic accountability, and fellowship with CCMS members, shadowing and volunteer opportunities. There are also preparations for medical school admission, seminars, opportunities to mentor high school students, and various trips. Cream City Medical Society members, in the shadows of its founders, barriers and limitations not withstanding, continue to march forward in the vanguard of Milwaukee’s medical community, endlessly advocating for the disenfranchised, always striving for the best and looking up towards the unlimited future. (* = deceased CCMS member)