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Montefiore in the News

May 31, 2007

Washington, D.C., (May 31, 2007) – The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has renamed its annual community service award for Montefiore president Dr. Spencer Foreman. The award will now be called: “Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service.”  Dr. Foreman served as chair of the AAMC from 1992-1993, and he is currently a Distinguished Service member on the AAMC Executive Council. 

During his tenure as AAMC chair, Dr. Foreman was the driving force behind the establishment of the community service award.  The award honors a major commitment by a medical school or teaching hospital to address the needs of their surrounding communities through exceptional programs that go beyond an institution’s traditional service roles.  Dr. Foreman presented the first AAMC Outstanding Community Service Award to the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1993.

In 1996, Montefiore Medical Center received the award for its 125-year history and heritage of incomparable community service.  Under Dr. Foreman’s leadership, Montefiore created new initiatives to continue this tradition, including the Social Medicine Residency Program, the nation’s largest School Health Program, a Lead Safe House, a Child Advocacy Center and a network of 21 community-based primary care sites, to name a few.  Montefiore’s approach, which stresses collaborations that unite the strengths of an academic medical center with local and state agencies, is a national model for how to provide community service and healthcare in an urban environment.

“I can think of no one more appropriate to name this annual award after than Dr. Spencer Foreman,” said AAMC President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. “During his long and distinguished career, Dr. Foreman’s exemplary dedication and commitment to community service have set an example for all of us in academic medicine.”

“I am proud of Montefiore’s guiding principle of staying close to our historical roots as a force for community betterment, creating a wide array of social programs and spearheading community redevelopment,” said Dr. Foreman. “In so many ways, Montefiore is a model health system for much of urban America, advancing the interests of those who depend on us for vital healthcare services.”

Earlier this week, Dr. Foreman also received the National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee. During its 100-year history, AJC has worked to safeguard minorities, fight terrorism, anti-Semitism, hatred and bigotry, pursue social justice, advance human dignity, support Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, defend religious freedom and provide humanitarian relief to those in need. “It is my profound honor to be this year’s AJC National Human Relations Award recipient,” said Dr. Foreman. “Nothing could mean more to me than to be recognized for contributions that are the heart and soul of what I do and what I care about. I can tell you from my heart that the most joy and satisfaction really comes from the work, and not the recognition of it.”

A hospital and health systems chief executive for 35 years, Dr. Foreman has served as president of Montefiore, one of the largest academic medical centers in the country, since 1986.  Previously, he was president of Sinai Hospital, and director of the U.S. Public Health Hospital, both in Baltimore, MD.  He graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and is certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease.

The 2007 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service Award will be presented to this year’s winner at the AAMC’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2-7.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not for profit association representing all 125 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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