By Cedron Williams
Contributing Reporter
Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders, the first black woman to hold the post of Surgeon General, visited Wake Forest University School of Medicine April 21.
Now as a pediatric endocrinologist she is listed among the "Distinguished Women of America."
The university chapter of the Student National Medical Association invited Elders to speak at the Fifth Annual Medical Excellence Banquet to honor 14 graduating seniors among the organization.
Valerie Cothran, the university president of SMNA, said the organization had worked since last August to convince Dr. Elders to speak at the event.
During Dr. Elders' tenure as Surgeon General, she was a controversial figure in U.S. government; her scientific correctness was not politically correct in Washington, D.C.
As Surgeon General, Dr. Elders sought to change the health care system, a task she remains dedicated to.
In her banquet speech Dr. Elders labeled the American health care system as a "sick-care system." Although $940 million is spent on healthcare, less than 1 percent is spent on measures to prevent illness before it occurs.
Elders advocates preventive measures through education and awareness. She mentioned that America is too busy teaching the traditional curriculum of reading, writing and arithmetic to educate about health.
Elders said she feels everyone deserves the right to proper medical attention. "Every criminal has a right to a lawyer. Why shouldn't every sick person have a right to a doctor? We have a responsibility to our society to educate and reform the health care system," she said.
Many doctors are concentrated in the urban settings, therefore access to medical attention is maldistributed to inner-city and rural communities.
Elders urged ministers and businessmen to help achieve universal access to health care.
She gave words of advice to the graduating seniors of SMNA. Elders urged them to care, not to fear failure and have the courage to stand up and speak out, because one person with courage can make a majority.
The national vice president of SMNA, Tom-meka Archinard Thibidideaux sent a resounding message. "Tough times never last, but tough people do," he said.
Most of the attendees were medical students, undergraduates or medical affiliates of the university.
Prior to the banquet, SMNA held a silent auction to help fund the organization's alternative to violence programs and one-on-one contact programs to steer adolescents in the right direction. SMNA is the nation's oldest and largest medical student organization focused upon professional excellence and moral principles.
Through sponsorship of minority youth programs and dissemination of information specific to minorities, SMNA seeks to provide quality education for minorities and women.
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Courtesy of Wake Forest School of Medicine