Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 02:52 Written by Administrator Sunday, 26 July 2009 22:21

On the night of September 3, 2009 the Cream City Medical Society honored five candidates, with $1000 Legacy Scholarships.  The Legacy Scholarships are earmarked for African American students of medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.  This year’s five recipients were medical students who displayed high levels of achievement.   They included Travelle Franklin-Ford, Liliana Kanu, Latonya Turner, Craystalynn Woodard, and Natalie Yapo.  Please see the brief biographical sketch of each recipient.

The Legacy Scholarship fundraiser and awards banquet was held at the home of a prominent African American Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Dr. William Finlayson.  Dr. Finlayson was the first African-American OB/GYN to practice at St. Joseph and Mt. Sinai Hospitals in Milwaukee.  He came to Milwaukee in 1958.  Through his efforts and those of other prominent African American Physicians in Milwaukee including Dr. Randall Pollard; hospitals such as St. Anthony’s, Mount Sinai, Milwaukee County General, Milwaukee County Lutheran and Deaconess became more open and inclusive to African Americans.  Dr. Finlayson owned a large practice on Capitol Drive from 1958 until 1997.  He has graciously and tirelessly served the Milwaukee Community for over 40 years and continues to maintain an outstanding and enduring record of service to this organization.  He served as a past president for the Cream City Medical Society.

Cream City Medical Society, a chartered member of the National Medical Association, is an 82 year old institution representing African American doctors of every health discipline including medicine, dentistry, podiatry, and pharmacy.  Its goal and purpose is to address the health care needs of the African American community while raising money for scholarship funding for future African American doctoral level healthcare professionals.  Through annual fundraising events, such as this, CCMS will continue to raise much needed funds to aid aspiring African American students in their dreams of becoming healthcare professionals who will help to increase the health and livelihood of the greater African American community.

2009 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

September 3, 2009

The Cream City Medical Society

Travelle Franklin-Ford

Ms Travelle Franklin-Ford, of Washington, DC. attended the University of Pittsburg, receiving degrees in both Bioengineering and Psychology. She is a MD/PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and hopes to complete her degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2010. Travelle currently serves as the National President of the Student National Medial Association.  As an aspiring Ophthalmologist, she hopes to balance a career of patient care in an academic setting, clinical research, and public service.

Liliana Kanu

Ms. Liliana Kanu is from Riverdale, Ga. She attended the University of Georgia for her undergraduate education and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in Spanish. Liliana is now completing her fourth year at the University of Wisconsin Medical and School of Public Health.  She plans on pursuing a career in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Latonya Turner

Ms LaTonya Turner, a native of Tchula, MS, received a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Rust College and Alcorn State University.  At the Medical College of Wisconsin, LaTonya served as the ‘07-‘08 Co-President of the Student National Medical Association and Chair of several other organizational programs.  Her medical field of choice is internal medicine of which she plans to use as a stepping stone to have an enormous, positive involvement and impact in the community which she chooses to serve.

2009 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Craystalynn Woodard

Ms Crystalynn Woodard received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago.  She is a second year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.  Craystalynn is the current Co-President of the Student National Medical Association, University of Wisconsin Chapter.  Her other activities include middle school student mentorship, adult stem cell research, and clinic volunteering. 

Natalie Yapo

Ms Natalie Yapo, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Butler University.   She currently is a senior medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Natalie is a member of the Student National Medical Association, mentors aspiring medical students and volunteers at the Saturday Free Clinic.   She plans on pursuing a medical specialty in pediatrics with a focus in emergency medicine.

“The good physician treats the disease; The great physician treats the patient with the disease”

                                                                                                                                William Osler