ABWP goes national

The Association of Black Women Physicians (ABWP) announced Tuesday that  they are expanding membership from its’ Los Angeles base to include  African American women doctors, nationally.
Since ABWP’s inception,  26 years ago, the organization has provided free health services such as  education, prevention, testing and health screening for diseases most  prevalent in the African American community.
The free health services  are offered to the community by its member doctors, who go into the  community and set up remote offices in an event referred to as the  “Wellness Series.” Six Wellness Series are offered throughout the year.
“Before there were discussions of universal healthcare or affordable  health care, ABWP was providing it,” Dr. LaTanya Hines, ABWP’s new  president, expressed. She is an OB/GYN in private practice.
In  addition to offering free medical/health services to urban communities,  the organization supports black women medical doctors, interns,  residents, and medical students, offering them scholarships. The  upcoming 27th Annual Charity, Scholarship, and Dinner Dance on October  25, 2008 at the Renaissance Montura Hotel in Los Angeles will raise  funds that will provide financial scholarships to medical students.
“We  want all of them to know we exist and what we offer. We also want them  to know that we need them in our efforts to serve our urban communities’  doctors. We want to increase awareness of our organization amongst  eligible physicians, residents and physicians in training, and provide a  support base for them. Furthermore, we want the national Black  community to know that we are about delivering quality care for free,  and dedicated to their health and wellness,” said Dr. Hines.
Before  coming on board Hines understood the national direction in which the  members wanted to take the organization, and the need for such an  organization in urban communities. The not-for-profit organization will  maintain its Los Angeles based headquarters, as the organization opens  other locations throughout the country.
If you are a black woman  doctor and are interested in learning more about ABWP membership, or are  interested in starting a local chapter of ABWP, contact Dr. LaTanya  Hines at acehines@yahoo.com. To learn more about ABWP and when they will  be in your community providing health screenings, you may visit them on  the web at www.blackwomenphysicians.org/aboutus.php