WASHINGTON, DC – Jamaican-born Dean and Vice President of Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Professor E. Albert Reece, is this year’s recipient of the Marcus Garvey Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Award.
The honour was conferred on him by the Jamaica Association of Maryland (JAM) at its annual Independence Ball commemorating Jamaica’s 47th year of Independence on August 1 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, in making the presentation, noted that “Dr. Reece is the first Caribbean-born person to serve as Dean at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the second person of colour to hold this prestigious position.”
Under his leadership, she said, “the school of medicine continues to excel as one of the top medical schools in the nation.” She also singled out Dr. Reece’s many accomplishments, saying they reflect “Marcus Garvey’s vision for his people as he was a man, who saw the tremendous potential of the black race and influenced the lives of many young people and encouraged political leadership.”
Delegate Nathan-Pulliam, herself Jamaican-born and a founding member of JAM, expressed pride in making the presentation. “I present you with this distinguished award for your outstanding contribution to the field of medicine and community service. As a Jamaican, we are proud of your contribution and JAM honours you by presenting you with the Marcus Garvey UNIA Award,” he added.
Professor Reece said he was humbled to receive such a prestigious award named for Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Dr. Reece stressed that part of his own giving back to the country of his birth involved a project on which he was collaborating with the University of the West Indies (UWI) to devise a programme to assist in treating diabetes.
L-R: Maryland House Delegate, Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (left), presents Dean and Vice President of Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine, Professor E. Albert Reece, with the 2009 Marcus Garvey Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Award, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, and President of JAM, Rick Nugent.
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, who was the guest speaker, congratulated Professor Reece on behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica on his achievements as well as for his efforts that won him the 2009 Marcus Garvey UNIA Award.
He also read Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding’s Emancipation message, in which he called on Jamaicans not to allow their minds to be imprisoned in slavery.
“As we reflect on our past, as we look at the scars of slavery, let us remind ourselves that the human spirit does heal. This is the legacy we have inherited – not a curse that we still carry, and slavery is only one part of that legacy.
“Let us, as a free people, become a mighty people, who will accomplish what we can, what we will and what we must,” he stated.
