Life is indeed precious, and so the preservation, and enhancement of this issue gets all of our attention.

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For the past eight months in the US, there has been a vigorous, and loud debate on how health care will be reformed. The voice of the politicians, insurance companies, lobbyists, tea party protesters boon across the landscape.

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Well, there is a significant component of healthcare that stays out of the political food fight ,and keep their eyes on the prize of training the new doctors the service our needs, and do the innovation needed to conquer the diseases still haunting our well being.

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Effective leadership is key to provide the ethical, and innovative framework to enable such a possibility.

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Dr. Albert Reece, MD, PHD, MBA

Well, we found such a person in Dr. Albert Reece.  His medical school supplies 50% of the doctors for the state of Maryland.  He leads to school that ranks in the top 50 in the nation.  His concerns for healthcare generously spills beyond the bounds of Maryland and has touched the lives of  folks in his native land of Jamaica. 

He was recently recognized for his untiring effort when he was awarded the Marcus Garvey Universal Negro Improvement Association Award.  Listen to the interview below to see what his contribution.

In 2006, he came dean tof the prestegious school of medicine at the University of Maryland.

Dean  Reece received a B.S. degree (magna cum laude) from Long Island University and an M.D. from the New York University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.

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In addition, Reece holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, and an M.B.A. from the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University. He has published 11 books, four monographs, and 450 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and abstracts. Reece is a sought-after lecturer, nationally and internationally, in his areas of expertise.

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An expert on the mechanism of diabetes-induced birth defects, Dean Reece and his research group have pioneered the discovery of the dominant biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the cause of these birth defects, as well as methods to prevent these anomalies.  He and his research team have also developed a technique for early prenatal diagnosis with potential for use in curative fetal therapy.

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Dean Reece is a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences, and he serves on IOM’s Board on Health Sciences Policy, the March of Dimes Scientific Advisory Committee, the Administrative Board of the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Executive Committee of the National Council of Deans. He has also served on boards at several federal government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality and multiple committees and councils at the National Institutes of Health. In May 2006, the National Academies’ National Research Council and IOM announced Reece’s appointment to a newly commissioned committee to monitor and revise the Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Most recently, Dean Reece became Chair of the Council of Deans for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in October 2008.

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We have the privilege of getting a few ticks from his busy clock to give us some of his keen insights into the field of healthcare, far away from the noisy debate that is shaping on national policy.

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Click here to  listen to the wisdom of Dr. Albert Reece

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By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world By practicing reverence for life we become good, deep, and alive.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

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Who are the most influential men of 2009?

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drumroll……………………………………………

Hon. Usain Leo Bolt

After more than half a million votes from AM readers, AskMen.com has the answer, and it’s on our list of The Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2009. The men of the Top 49 span multiple industries and countries; through their achievements, both personal and professional, they have inspired everyday guys in a variety of ways. They’re the men we look to as role models, and history will remember them as those who best embodied the way men aspired to live in 2009.

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Usain Bolt’s phenomenal achievements on the track made him an obvious choice for the 2009 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, and the runner earned a number of prestigious honors from his native country as well. In September, Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding announced that the champion sprinter will receive the Order of Jamaica, making the soon-to-be titled Honorable Usain Bolt the youngest recipient ever of the Order.

Check out the breaking story

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For the past nine years, the UN’s have invented  a multi-dimensional metric that reflects a measure of well being beyond GDP.

The three key components are:

• Life Expectancy
• Adult Literacy
• Purchasing Power Parity

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Overall, Jamaica is  ranked 100th. out of the 182 counties considered.

The top ten countries listed on the index are: Norway, Australia, Iceland, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Switzerland and Japan.

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The United States ranks 13th, down one spot from last year.

The finding on how we compare with the rest  of the Caribbean was most revealing.

• Barbados  – 37
• Cuba   – 51
• Bahamas – 52
• St. Kitts – 62
• Trinidad & Tobago – 64
• St. Lucia – 69
• Grenada – 74
• Dominican Republic – 90
• St. Vincent – 94
• Jamaica  – 100
• Guyana – 114
• Haita – 149

Click to get UN’s Report on Jamaica

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The other major component tracked is mobility. This is a major factor in the prosperity of a nation.

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Here is an executive summary of the UN’s findings.

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The Take aways from the UN  gurus are as follows:

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• Mobility has the potential to enhance human development among movers, stayers and the majority of those in destination places.
• However, processes and outcomes can be adverse, and there is scope for significant improvements in policies and institutions.
• We present an ambitious long-term agenda for capturing the large unrealized gains.
• Bold and committed leadership now can make a huge difference for the lives of millions of people

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You are given the privilege of giving feedback to the Prime minister about this finding. What would you say to him?

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Being born on an Island gives me a special sensitivity to life on a lush rock. 

Here we are in October, and the Caribbean has been blessed with uncommon serenity of the Atlantic and Caribbean seas.

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The Islands of the Pacific has not been that fortunate. 

In the period of just a few  days, the Philippines has been hammered by two typhoons. American Samoa is grieving from the wake of a terrible tsunami, and Indonesian’s national nerve have been rattled by the repeated  shaking of 6 plus magnitude earthquakes.

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We can generate a lot of heat with arguments regarding the impact of global warming, or we can do something constructive.

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Instead, use this as an opportunity to nurture the generosity of your heart.

How about sharing a gift of Thanksgiving for the so far quiet season in the Caribbean.

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One place that I have lots of trust and confidence in delivering maximum service with minimum overhead year in, year out is ADRA.

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This is one suggestion, but take action and support the cause.

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“The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live.”

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Ethel Percy

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