June 10, 2006

Deborah Arrindell, MD, MPH, JD, Cornell Class, AG&LS ‘79

Deborah attended Cornell University from 1975 up until 1979. While at Cornell, Deborah majored in biology. After Cornell University, she attended Yale University School of Medicine where she obtained a MD-MPH degree in 1984. Deborah completed an internship in pediatrics at the University of Maryland and completed a residency in anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. While at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she was an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Deborah attended the University of Maryland School of Law where she obtained a JD in 1997. Deborah is admitted to the bar in New York, Maryland, and New Jersey. Deborah currently works as a Benefit Risk Leader at Johnson & Johnson in drug safety.

Jamela Franklin, AB, EdM, MA, Cornell Class, AS ’76

Currently in private practice outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Jamela Franklin believes that everything begins and ends with our spiritual, not religious, understanding of the universe. A graduate of Cornell University, Ms. Franklin received her Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her M.A. from Lesley University in Counseling Psychology. Jamela has worked at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Graduate School of Design, the Boston Public Schools, several other universities and various agencies, organizations, and graduate schools. She developed a very effective and unique counseling/energy/spiritual model entitled ALEMAJ that addresses the Spirit, the mind, and the body. Jamela Franklin is a Holistic Psychotherapist, Aromatherapist, Reiki Master, Energy Medicine Practitioner, Motivational Speaker, Metaphysician, and the Author of the soon to be published book entitled I Am not Crazy-Just Menopausal; it is a humorous African-American female perspective about menopause. It provides a wonderful spiritual release for women who are in the process of self-discovery. Contact information: oyinde@peoplepc.com; 770-808-8051.

Sonja S. Hutchins, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, Cornell Class, AS ‘79

Dr. Sonja Hutchins is board certified in Preventive Medicine, a Senior Physician Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics. She has worked on the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases at the CDC for 20 years. After graduation from Mount Sinai Medical School in 1983, she was trained in Internal Medicine at the Washington Hospital Center and in Preventive Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. She has a Master in Public Health in Immunology and Infectious Diseases and a Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology. Dr. Hutchins has served for several years as the chairperson of the American Public Health Association’s Workgroup of the Action Board on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health.

Kamau Kokayi, MD, Cornell Class AS, ’77

Is a Yale University School of Medicine graduate and has post-graduate training in Classical Homeopathy (London, England) and Chinese Herbal Medicine. He has NCCA certification in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Dr. Kokayi has been in private practice as a holistic physician for more than 20 years. He is the Director of Olive Leaf Wholeness Health Center where he works with a multi-disciplinary team of health practitioners in an integrative medicine setting. His medical practice evolves around family practice, environmental medicine with allergy testing and treatment, chinese medicine (both acupuncture and Chinese herbs), classical homeopathy, applied kinesiology, clinical nutrition, and bioenergetic healing (radiant energy therapy). Dr Kokayi served as Medical Director of Brooklyn’s Kings County Medical Center of Acupuncture for 13 years. He was also the Chairman of the Board of the Ifetayo Cultural Arts Facility in Brooklyn for 5 years. His key accomplishments include (1) a documentary film titled Return in which African-American health professionals returning to Africa to explore traditional African Medicine were filmed in 5 countries and (2) creation and co-host of a radio talk show the Global Medicine Review. The radio talk show airs on Wednesday from 12-1PM on WBAI, 99.5 FM in the NYC metro area and on line at www.wbai.org.

Achieving Optimal Health – Eliminating Disparities

References and Resources (Books and Websites)

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health

Michael Byrd and Linda Clayton. An American Health Dilemma, Volumes 1 and 2. http://www.ebookmall.com/ebook/79863-ebook.htm.

United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of Minority Health. http://www.omhrc.gov/.

Institute of Medicine. Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare. http://www.iom.edu/CMS/2955.aspx.

David Satcher and Rubens Pamies (editors). Multicultural Medicine and Health Disparities.

James Gavin. Dr. Gavin’s Heath Guide for African Americans: How to Keep Yourself and Your Children Well. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580402046/103-4110254-7460646?v=glance&n=283155.

Institute of Medicine. In the Nation’s Compelling Interest: Ensuring Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce. http://www.iom.edu/CMS/2955.aspx.

National Medical Association. The W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute. http://www.nmanet.org.

American Public Health Association. Community Solutions to Health Disparities. http://www.apha.org/NPHW/solutions/.

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

United States Department of Health and Human Services. Safety and Wellness. http://www.dhhs.gov/safety/index.shtml.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Promotion. http://www.cdc.gov/node.do/id/0900f3ec80059b1a.

United States Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Surgeon General. Reports and Publications. http://surgeongeneral.gov/reportspublications.html.

Institute of Medicine. The Future of the Public’s Health. http://www.iom.edu/CMS/2955.aspx.

Sally Pansing Kravich. Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Integrative Medicine

Institute of Medicine. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. http://www.iom.edu/CMS/2955.aspx.

Complementary Alternative Medical Association. http://www.camaweb.org/.

National Center for Homeopathy. Contact: 703-548-7790 Alexandria, VA

(Books and kits on homeopathic treatment and references for nearest homeopaths).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Integrative Medicine (Continued)

American Herbalists Guide. Contact: 770-751-6021. (Member list and publications and herbal education programs).

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Los Angeles CA. Contact: 323-937-5514. (Acupuncture information and listings).

Electronic Protective Devices. Contact: Brian Briggs, MD, North Dakota, 701-838-6011

(Inexpensive electromagnetic medallion).

Mold consultation and environmental engineering. Contact: Russell Olinsky MS, Scottsdale, Arizona, 602-432-1449.

Water Purifiers: Environmental Medical Research Foundation Buffalo, NY. Contact: 800-787-8780.

Holistic Health

Donna Eden. Energy Medicine.

Louise L. Hay. You Can Heal Your Life.

Barbara M. Dixon. Good Health for African Americans.

Valerie Ann Worwood. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Anita Jefferson Worwood. Climb Every Obstacle.

Iyanla Vanzant. Daily Meditations.

Llaila O. Afrika. African Holistic Health

Barbara Hoberman Levine. Your Body Believes Every Word You Say.

John Randolph Price. Practical Spirituality

DVD Movie. What the Bleep Do We Know? An Explanation of Quantum Physics in the Context of Spirituality.