National Medical Association “Practitioner of the Year” Award Goes to FAMU Alumnus
(WASHINGTON) — Michael Early Sr., M.D., a 1977 graduate of the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has been named “Practitioner of the Year” by the National Medical Association (NMA). The award will be presented officially to Early this August at the NMA 2007 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The NMA, located in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest organization, which represents the interests of more than 30,000 African-American physicians and their patients. The "Practitioner of the Year" Award recognizes the professional careers of those who share in and who are demonstrating the NMA’s commitment to address critical issues of health care and medicine.
In a letter to Early, NMA’s Board of Trustees Chair Carolyn Barley Britton wrote, “History is nourished by example. The instructive example of your life and dedication to improving the health of millions of Americans daily has moved the National Medical Association to salute you.”
Early, who also attended the Morehouse School of Medicine and earned his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine, is in private practice in Fort Valley, Ga. Specializing in family medicine, his practice emphasizes the prevention of disease and stress, as well as early detection of diseases.
He employs a physician’s assistant, two nurses, phlebotomists and support staff. His office is highly visible in the community as it provides medical services for all athletes in the Fort Valley public school system and annual health fairs for residents. Early is also the university physician for Fort Valley State. “We are focusing on health disparities, and we are making a positive impact right here in our community,” said Early. “I am elated to be this year’s recipient of the NMA Practitioner of the Year Award. It is another reason why I must continue to do the best job that I can while here on Earth.”
Early credits his background as a pharmacist with giving him greater insight into the most beneficial care for his patients. “Dr. Early represents the essence of the kind of professionals we strive to produce at FAMU,” said Dr. Henry Lewis III, professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “He has married the practice of pharmacy with medicine to supply quality health services that have been recognized nationally, and weapplaud his efforts in providing outstanding patient care.”
The National Committee of Quality Assurance—a widely recognized symbol of quality in health care—has given Early’s medical practice its stamp of approval for taking care of patients with diabetes, cardiovascular risks and other serious health threats. “I am very proud to say we have used the team approach to gain this recognition and become the only Georgia-based primary care practice thus far to get this credit,” he said.
Early is a licensed pharmacist in Georgia and Florida. He received the Master Clinical Award from the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks in July 2006; in 1998 and 1999 he served as medical chief of staff for the Peach Regional Medical Center in Georgia, and he was selected as the primary care physician for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Pamela Bryant
(850) 412-7936
pamela.bryant@famu.edu
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