McCune Smith-Cordice Medical Society
Minutes
On July 13, 2024, the McCune Smith-Cordice Medical Society held its third general assembly meeting of the current year at Mirelle’s Restaurant in Westbury, NY. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 o’clock by the president. Forty-one physicians were in attendance, 21 members and 20 non-members. This low attendance, compared to previous instances, was attributed to various competing events, vacations and prior engagements, inherent to the summertime. Once again, the meeting started with the introduction of the leadership of the society, including, Dr. Auguste, president, Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, vice-president, Dr. Hippolyte, secretary and dr. Dupiton assistant-secretary, The treasure, Dr. Butler and his assistant, Dr. Lufulwabo were excused. All the physicians participating for the first time, such as Dr. Fritzline Montalmant, Dr. Michelle Reed, Dr. Nichol Martinez, Dr. Afi Onuegbu, Dr. Onyichukwu Ochi, Dr. Graphson Gracius and Dr Sammy Sanon.
Next Dr. Auguste reported on the recent noteworthy achievements of our members, starting with Dr. James Satterfield, who completed his MS-MBA degree from Cornell University and Dr. Lufulwabu who obtained his MPH degree from Yale University. Dr. Francine Hippolyte was inducted in the Gold Humanism Honor Society and also received the 2024 Caribbean Impact Award from Caribbean News. Dr. Guytelle St-Victor had two poster presentations at a Psychiatric convention in Lausanne, Switzerland. Hermes Privat, who previously attended our meetings as a medical student presented and defended his thesis at Quisqueya University, Haiti and now has become a full-fledged medical doctor. Drs. Louis and Daniella Belzie were congratulated for her daughter, Alexandra Belzie, MD., who started a residency in Ophthalmology on July 1, 2024. Dr. Allyn Toles, daughter of Dr. Allen Toles stated to work as an attending anesthesiologist at Northwell – Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Finally, Dr. Auguste won the President’s Award at Northwell for outstanding contributions.
We also acknowledged and offered our sympathies and support to several members, facing some difficult moments themselves or their family members. Condolences were presented to Dr Francoise Germain, Dr. Michelle Germain and her husband Dr. Yvon Damour, as they mourn the passing of their father and father-in-law, Dr. Robert Germain, former professor of Anatomy and Dean of the Medical School at the State University of Haiti. Support was also offered to Dr. St-Victor, as her father and her husband both continue to recover from their illnesses. Finally, we were asked to keep Dr. Alexandra Guillaume in our prayers as she battles her own health issues. As a tight-knit family, we will always share each other’s joys and pains.
At this point, Dr. Roxanne Connell, chair of the membership committee, presented her report. Sixty members have sent their application and slightly less than 60 have paid their dues, and are bona fide members. She encouraged the non-members in attendance to fill out the application forms on line or on paper form in order to join this young but so much needed and relevant organization. She had also prepared beautiful nametags for all the members to facilitate identification and communication during our gatherings. The members were encouraged to keep their badges or turn them in at the end of the meeting in order to have them available at our next meeting.
At this time, Dr. Reginald Rousseau made a presentation on behalf of the communication Committee that he chairs. He explains that it is key nowadays for an organization to have a profile in the social media, if they want to succeed. He has been promoting our story on multiple platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, He invited everyone to check McCune Smith – Cordice Medical Society to see all the postings. He also discussed efforts being made to build a better, more attractive website for our society, along with the other members of the Website committee, Dr. Lufulwabo and Dr. Roxanne Connell. That website will have multiple tabs inking to signup, mission, donation, advocacy, education and a detailed description of our membership benefits. Dr. Rousseau asked everyone to consider contributing to the website, particularly when it comes to practice management and interactive discussions. This website will require additional expenses, and everyone is invited to contribute to the extent of their generosity and their capability.
Finally, Dr. Rousseau reminded the audience of the importance of Communication, which he has been running without any assistance. Dr. Rousseau felt that we could create educational material that could be featured on a future YouTube channel. He invited any members with some expertise in the social media platforms to join him on this most important effort.
The nest item on the agenda was a presentation by Dr. Nichol Martinez, an interventional gastroenterologist as well as associate program director in GI at Northwell. He provided an exhaustive discussion of his many areas of expertise, ranging from complex biliary procedures to pancreatic malignancy and complications of severe pancreatitis, as well as endoscopic mucosal resection of large intestinal polyps and stenting for obstructing colonic neoplasms. Dr. Martinez established contact with other GI specialists in the audience, with whom he will certainly continue to cooperate to better serve our communities. This was the first of a series of presentations that we intend to organize during our future meetings, to showcase the skills of our talented young specialists.
It was time again to mingle as we break for a delicious meal, which delighted many of our first time attendees, experiencing Haitian cuisine for the first time.
The meeting continued with the report of the mentoring committee, spearheaded by Drs. Hippolyte and St-Victor. They reported that as p[art of their agreement with District 29 of the Department of Education (predominantly covering the Queens county area), the committee, represented by Drs. Rodriguez and Auguste, participated in a career day program at PS/IS 208 in the Glen Oaks section of Queens on May 22, 2024.
The participation was well appreciated as attested by the messages of gratitude sent by the school guidance counselor, Ms. Susan Vincent Maisel. The program will continue and most likely expand as Schools reopen in the fall. Many volunteers will be needed.
Following the Mentoring Committee, the Community Affairs committee reported that on May 11, 2024, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity organized a Men’s Health Forum at Hofstra University. The society was represented by Drs. O’Connor, Grant and Barnswell. It was well attended and the interest elicited was so intense that ay the end of the program, the participants escorted Dr. Barnswell all the way up to his car, trying to learn more.
Still as part of our community engagement, Dr. Monique Dufour-Jones had brought to the society’s attention, an initiative of the Center for Global Health of Northwell/Hofstra, in support of the HAITI AIR AMBULANCE, which is expected to play a key role in transporting patients in need of medical care or in transporting lifesaving medications and supplies, where the gang violence is causing and is expected to cause significant hinderance in the provision of medical care to the Haitian community. The issue was discussed over our WhatsApp group chat and the response was prompt. In 48 hours, $4,550.00 were collected for this program and the check was presented to Dr. Eric Cioe Pena, chair of the Center for Global Health at Northwell, in the presence of Dr. Allen Toles, at the Annual Board Meeting of Northwell. The contribution was acknowledged subsequently at the meeting of the Center for Global Health. Dr. Auguste brought attention to the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Carriacou and Jamaica.
We were all encouraged to look for ways to support their rebuilding efforts.
Next, Dr. Auguste shared with the group a letter from Caribbean News, offering us up to two pages in their journal for a weekly article on different aspects of medical care, for a fee of $2,000.00 per month. The General sentiment was that, although it would be a welcome opportunity to address the health concerns in the community, we were not able to afford this fee, at this time. A letter will be addressed to Dr. Kernizant to convey this decision.
Finally, Dr. Auguste discussed our efforts to affiliate the McCune Smith-Cordice Medical Society with the National Medical Association. The NMA bylaws stipulate that in order to create an affiliation, at least 7 members of the group must be dues paying members, in good standing. In fact, we have 10 dues paying members of the NMA. They are Drs. Auguste, Defour-Jones, Fox, Graham-Hill, Hill, Laroche, Ramos, Reed, Satterfield and Toles, all in good standing with the NMA. The application form was submitted and Dr. Auguste shared with the membership that the affiliation was preliminary accepted. It will be officially announced at the upcoming Annual Gala of the NMA, in NYC, in a few weeks. All members in good standing of the McCune Smith – Cordice Medical Society will automatically be eligible to become members of the NMA.
It was also stressed that Northwell Health will sponsor an inaugural physician gathering on Monday August 8, 2024 between 5:30 and 7:30 PM and all the members in good standing are invited to participate in the meeting at no cost.
The General Assembly meeting adjourned a 8:50 PM after agreeing that we have our fourth reunion of the year on October 12, 2024, at 6:30 PM and still at Chez Mirelle’s Restaurant.
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