Minority Health Commission Honors Dr. Carla Harwell

CLEVELAND -- For her work in decreasing health disparities among African Americans, the Ohio Commission on Minority Health (OCMH) will honor Carla Harwell, MD at the Commission's Biennial Community Recognition and Awards Dinner in Columbus. Dr. Harwell is the Medical Director of the Otis Moss, Jr. ~ University Hospitals Medical Center, and assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University.

Many of Dr. Harwell's patients are underinsured, and she works to reduce health care inequalities by empowering her patients to take control and become active participants in their own health care. She gives lectures at community churches, health fairs and schools; and serves on the medical advisory board of Minority Tissue/Transplant Education Program. She also works with the NAACP's Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, the Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Task Force and the 11th Congressional District Health Advisory Task Force.

A Cleveland native, Dr. Harwell joined University Hospitals of Cleveland in 1995 as an internal medicine resident. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and a medical degree, all from the University of Cincinnati.

During medical school, Dr. Harwell was a participant in the David Satcher Clerkship, a month-long program for visiting fourth-year minority medical students that introduces them to University Hospitals with hopes of attracting them as residents. Not only did she return to Cleveland for her medical residency, but Dr. Harwell now serves as assistant director of the program.

The Otis Moss Jr.~ University Hospitals Medical Center offers primary care services to many Fairfax community residents in Cleveland. Since completing her residency training, Dr. Harwell has served as medical director there with a special interest in reducing the health care disparities that exist in the African American community.

In addition to receiving the award in Columbus, Dr. Harwell will be honored by OCMH and the Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland at a luncheon held at HealthSpace Cleveland on
April 1.

Posted on Friday, March 05, 2004 (Archive on Friday, March 12, 2004)
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