Volume 3
WHAT’Snew
Number 3
February 7, 2014
Pennsylvania Hospital
`` Far left: Black History Month Committee members are: Leslie Powell, Medical Records; Gwen Mayrant, Medical Records, and Carolyn Griggs, Department of Medicine. Not shown: Sharen Iszard-Thomas, Medical Records; Jamillah Muhammad, EMT/ICU; and Violetta Waddell, Medical Records.
Celebrating
“ By sharing a part of ourselves we learn to continuously encourage one another. For as much as we’re different, we’re the same.” — Carolyn Griggs
Inside Working in a Winter Wonderland...................2 Cardiology Services Week at PAH – February 10-14...........................2 What’s Happening.....................4 Penn Medicine CAREs Grant Winners...............4
the Life & Legacy of
F o r t h e pa s t d o z e n y e a r s , the Black History Month Committee at PAH has coordinated and sponsored a hospital celebration honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of this year’s event held on January 20 — “Education is the Key to Freedom” — was chosen in recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. One of the most pivotal opinions ever rendered by the US Supreme Court, Brown v. Board was actually the name given to five separate cases consolidated under the one name and heard by the Court. While the facts of each case are different, the main issue for each was the same: the constitutionality of state-sponsored segregation in public schools. “One of the things I have enjoyed the most over the years on the Black History Month Committee is working with the children from the McCall Elementary and Middle School,” said Gwen Mayrant, who works in Medical Records. “As adults we tend not to listen to young people and what they have to say. They really are the future and if given the chance you’ll find they truly do
MLK
have something to say and can be incredibly moving.” At this year’s celebration, students Ahmaad Brown and David Flores performed a mime routine to the song “So Glad I Made It” by gospel music artist and Pastor Marvin Sapp. This year’s MLK celebration was again filled with inspiration, poetry and song. Musical selections were performed by Fred Tillman in Transport, and Jeff McIntyre in Engineering, and a poetic recital was given by Jamillah Mohammad, an EMT in ICU. The keynote address was given by Minister Herbert Lusk, III, of the Greater Exodus Baptist Church. “The members of the Black History Month Committee hold this event to share the past and present contributions to American History,” said Carolyn Griggs, assistant to the Chair of Medicine. “It’s done to engage others and bring about a sense of community and onward progress. I personally do it, because I love the Arts and Literary interpretations by way of informing people that they are more than just their internal self and to highlight the importance of community service. By sharing a part of ourselves we learn to continuously encourage one another. For as much as we’re different, we’re the same.”
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