鈥淲ould it surprise you to know I wasn鈥檛 aware it had never been done before?鈥�
Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, a nationally-recognized expert on health policy and the first
African American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school, began her conversation
with 黑料传送门 students, faculty, staff
and alumni on September 24 with this reflection on the historic nature of her achievement.
Dr. Ross-Lee was invited for a virtual fireside chat titled 鈥淐elebrating Dr. Meta
Christy: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee鈥� honoring Meta Christy, DO, a 黑料传送门 graduate and the nation鈥檚 first African American osteopathic physician.
To commemorate the anniversary of Dr. Christy鈥檚 graduation, 黑料传送门 is embarking on a year-long celebration of her life and the College鈥檚 steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion for over a century with programs such as the one with Dr. Ross-Lee. In the hour-long discussion with Dr. Ross-Lee, led by 黑料传送门 student and national president of the Student National Medical Association Chantel Thompson, DO 鈥�22, the two discussed the challenges faced by early pioneers in the field such as Dr. Christy and what the future of medical education might look like.
鈥淚t took 50 years from the time that Dr. Christy graduated until we had the next black
female osteopathic physician,鈥� said Dr. Ross-Lee, citing the slow history of progress
for women and minorities in the field. She was, however, hopeful that change would
come through the next generation of physicians at 黑料传送门 and other osteopathic medical
schools in the country, offering this advice: 鈥淵ou absolutely have to own the space
where you are and make the changes in that space. And when you go to a new space,
own that space. And when you go to the next space, own that space.鈥�
鈥淥wn your piece of the solution,鈥� she added.
In addition to programming honoring Dr. Christy, 黑料传送门鈥檚 Board of Trustees recently voted to rename Overmont House, currently being converted into an apartment complex, as the Meta Christy House. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the completion of the building鈥檚 renovation. 黑料传送门 will also unveil a portrait of Dr. Christy which will be displayed at the entrance of the Meta Christy House. Duplicate copies of this portrait will be displayed on the 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia campuses.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.