Jamaican Healthcare Entrepreneur selected for South Florida Soroptimist International “Women of Distinction” award

By: Lorna Wright

MIAMI – In a fitting tribute to her contribution to the healthcare industry and the community, which includes instructing women about breast exams and promoting women’s health issues, Judy Jackson, President/CEO and Administrator of Coast to Coast Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (“Coast to Coast”), was selected from among 34 candidates nominated from several categories by the Soroptimist International – Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA, for the top “Women of Distinction” award in the health category at its Annual Awards Breakfast held on October 18, 2006 in Boca Raton.

October, as many know, is “Breast Cancer Awareness” Month and this acknowledgment could not have been made at a more appropriate time, since she will be attending the Second African American Women’s Summit On Breast Cancer hosted by the American Cancer Society in Orlando, Florida November 2 to November 4, 2006.

Ms. Jackson’s statement after being selected was “I am humbled… I am thankful for the strong network of support that I enjoy.”

Quoting from the Awards Breakfast Program “‘Soroptimist’ is derived from Latin words ‘women’ and ‘the best’ and was founded in Oakland, California in 1921.” Soroptimist International is committed to supporting women and children and has over 100,000 members in 114 countries. The Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach Club is now in its 33rd year of honoring outstanding women with illustrious careers in the Education, Health and Professional categories and who have made major contributions to their communities and the industry within which they operate.

Over the years, this club has offered scholarships, other financial and community support to women not just in the local south Florida area, but also in Uganda, Africa. According to its Co-Presidents, Cynthia Cummings and Maureen Burke, “Our Women of Distinction Breakfast is a very public statement that our actions speak louder than our words.”

Ms. Jackson formed Coast to Coast, a nurse registry, three years ago and has developed the company to include locations in Miami/Dade and Broward Counties. She was motivated by her experience in the nursing profession, providing care in a wide sprectrum of settings. She was compelled to start a company to train and provide caregivers who could deliver compassionate care after she observed her mother aging and developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Etched in her memory is her mother, caught in the grips of this disease, eluding supervision and wandering from home. This experience causes Ms. Jackson to wonder whether family members are looking for homeless victims that wander the streets of many big cities. Being able to assist seniors in the comfort of their homes versus being placed in an institutional setting goes with Coast to Coast’s mission to provide superior quality care and “bring personalized care home.”

Ms. Jackson, as the top executive with strong support from a professional staff, is charged with the responsibility of managing the company’s growth and development. Community responsibility, however, is a top priority and her efforts are centered not just in her Jamaican/Caribbean-American community, but internationally. She supports and mentors young women who wish to enter the nursing profession, reminding them to focus on the well-being of clients. She has been invited to speak at graduation ceremonies for local nursing schools and also encourages Coast to Coast’s nursing employees to be self-motivated in seeking a path of self-improvement and continuing education.

Ms. Jackson has participated in medical missions, including one to Guyana, South America, which provided her with a glorious level of satisfaction after her group traveled across the Demarara River by boat to service over 200 citizens in a small clinic even though she could not swim. She also supports Horizon International’s program to create a world of hope for orphans whose parent(s) have died from HIV/AIDS and she is now helping an orphan on the continent of Africa. She aims to continue her strong commitment to her community goals and in providing the best possible care for her clients.

Ms. Jackson is a member of the Jamaica Nurses Association of Florida and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. She is a mother and a grandmother.