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Healthcare Transparency & Patient Safety Kentucky 42nd in the Nation For Healthcare Oct 17, 2019 Eastside Branch Public Library, Lexington, KY |
Joycelyn Elders, MD - Resume
A native of Schaal, AR., Dr. Elders is the oldest of eight children.
Now a Professor Emeritus of pediatric endocrinology, at the
University of Arkansas School of Medical Science.
Dr. Elders never saw a physician prior to her first year in college.
At the age of 15 she received a scholarship from the United Methodist
Church to attend Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR.
Upon graduation at age 18, she entered the U.S. Army as a first
lieutenant and received training as a physical therapist.
Dr. Elders attended the University of Arkansas Medical School (UAMS) on
the G.I. Bill. After graduation
in 1960, she was an intern at the University of Minnesota Hospital in
Minneapolis and did a pediatric residency and an endocrinology fellowship at
the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock and she ascended
the academic ladder to full professorship after her fellowship and board
certification in 1976. She also
holds a Master of Science degree in biochemistry.
Dr. Elders joined the faculty at UAMS as a professor
of pediatrics and received board certification as a pediatric
endocrinologist in 1978. Based
on her studies of growth in children and the treatment of hormone-related
illnesses, she has written many articles for medical research publications.
She was appointed Director of the Arkansas Department of Health in
October of 1987. While serving
as director, she was elected President of the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officers.
Dr. Elders was nominated as Surgeon General of the
U.S. Public Health Service by President Clinton on July 1st,
1993, confirmed by the Senate September 7th, and sworn in on
September 8th. Dr. Elders
served in this post until January 1995 following which, she returned to the
University of Arkansas Children=s Hospital until her retirement on June 30th,
1998.
Dr. Elders has been active in civic affairs as a
member of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Northside YMCA and Youth
Homes. She was listed in 100
Outstanding Women in Arkansas, Personalities of the South
and Distinguished Women in America.
She has won awards such as the Arkansas Democrat's Woman of the Year, the National Governor's
Association Distinguished Service Award, the American Medical Association's
Dr. Nathan Davis Award, the De Lee Humanitarian Award, and the National
Coalition of 100 Black Women's Candace Award for Health Science.
Dr. Elders has also received multiple honorary Doctorate of medical
sciences degrees and honorary doctorate of letters degrees.
Dr. Elders says her greatest achievement is that she married Oliver Elders and they have two sons, Eric and Kevin.