On the evening of February 26, 2019, prior to the Academy's inaugural event in its Race & Health programming series, we again celebrated the posthumous award of Fellowship to Dr. James McCune Smith with the official unveiling of a portrait donated to the Academy by Fellow Dr. Daniel Laroche. Painted by Haitian artist Junior Jacques, the portrait can be viewed in its permanent home on the second floor of the Academy.
Dr. Paul Theerman, Dr. Aletha Maybank, Anne Garner, Dr. Judith A. Salerno, Dr. Daniel Laroche
Academy President Dr. Judith A. Salerno makes opening remarks
Dr. Daniel Laroche speaks on the legacy of Dr. James McCune Smith
Dr. Daniel Laroche with Dr. Aletha Maybank of the New York City Health Department
Dr. Daniel Laroche and Dr. Judith A. Salerno
Dr. Susan Reverby, Dr. Aletha Maybank and Dr. Monique Guishard, speakers at the Academy's first Race and Health series event following the ceremony
Academy visitors read the plaque accompanying the portrait of Dr. James McCune Smith
Click here to read the complete remarks from Fellow Daniel Laroche, MD.
“…I then commissioned an art portrait of Dr. James McCune Smith for The New York Academy of Medicine by Haitian artist Junior Jacques and subsequently donated it to the Academy. I thank the Academy for accepting this gift and displaying it for this generation and the future to see and learn from.
This has been a passion for me because the contributions of Blacks have been hidden and distorted in America. A Black person in Africa wrote the first book, The Widsom of Ptah-Hotep was written by an African. The first physician was an African named Imhotep. In America there were many great contributions to medicine by Blacks despite slavery and this should be acknowledged and celebrated. This is not just Black history but the history of everyone to know and celebrate.”
Daniel Laroche, MD
President, Advanced Eyecare of New York
Read Full Remarks
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