To
mark the 2001 Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 15, the
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine organized a
session tagged "Physicians and Student Physicians Working in Community:
Social Responsibility in Action." The college invited two alumni
of the institution, Rev. Eugene O. Seals, MD, and B. Surae Eaton,
MD, to share their views on how they demonstrate this in their practice
as physicians and through their community outreach activities. Both
alumni have returned to provide health care in their hometowns and
have continued involvement with medical education and preparing
students and residents for the practice of medicine. Presentations
by these alumni members were followed by a discussion by student
representatives who are involved with similar projects of their
own. Wanda Dean Lipscomb, Ph.D., CHM Assistant Dean and Director
of the Center of Excellence in Minority Health Education and Health,
presided over the day's program.
A release from
the CHM Office of Student Affairs and Services, described Seals
as a member of the CHM Class of 1993. Currently he is the Assistant
Director, family Practice Residency program, Saginaw cooperative
Hospital Inc. According to the release, Rev. Dr. Seals is an ordained
minister who entered CHM as a nontraditional student with eight
children. Upon completion of his MD degree he returned to his hometown
of Saginaw, Michigan where he completed his residency training and
now works as a physician.
Dr. Seals worked
for several years at the Jane Street Clinic that serves disadvantaged
populations in the Saginaw community. He is active in several community
organizations.
The CHM release
also described Dr. Eaton as belonging to CHM Class of 1980. She
is a Family Practice Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor
at the Department of Family Practice, College of Human Medicine.
Also Dr. Eaton
is in private practice in Lansing, Michigan. A respected figure
in her community, Dr. Eaton has used her training as a physician
to impact the lives of many in the community. Her volunteer work
includes serving as a mentor in the Lansing school District, education
about health promotion for indigent populations, and participation
in the Lansing Ghana Sister City Project. Dr. Eaton was a member
of the first Lansing delegation to Ghana during which a team of
physicians volunteered in a Ghana health clinic.
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