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In summing up the Miami native’s efforts on behalf of the homeless, U.S. President Barack Obama says, ‘It’s a life that might be distilled into a question Dr. Greer asks all of us: ‘If we don’t fight injustice, who will?’
By Karen Cochrane
Dr. Pedro Jose “Joe” Greer Jr., chair of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s Department of Humanities, Health & Society, accepted the nation’s highest civilian honor – the Presidential Medal of Freedom – in a ceremony at the White House Aug. 12.
Less than 24 hours later, the Miami native was back home and in the halls of HLS II, preparing for a lecture with the college’s medical students and a tour of the neighborhoods where the students will eventually work with medically-underserved families as part of the Green Family Medicine & Society Program.
Before beginning his lecture, Greer spent a few minutes speaking on-camera with News@FIU. By turns joking and serious, he talked about what this latest honor means to him, the impetus behind his work, how the homeless landscape has – or hasn’t – been altered in the last 25 years, and how the future physicians that graduate from the Wertheim College of Medicine can change the world.
Photo courtesy of madelinemarshall.com
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Dr. Greer's one cool dude!
CONGRUTLATIONS DR. GREER! HOW ENCORAGING & INSPIRING! YOU HAVE TOUCHED MANY HEARTS INCLUDING MINE.
Annette Almanza
Sr. Secretary
FIU Metropolitan Center
Dr. Greer,
Congratulations!
Dr. Parkash,
Stempel School of Public Health
Dr. Green MD NEWS Miami Edition Congratulates You on this great accomplishment!! Keep the good work!
Great Dr. Geer
Dr. Greer: Congratulations!
Dear Dr. Greer,
Congratulations on earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom! As an FIU alumna, and a member of the Catholic community in Miami, I am very proud that you have earned this great award! Well-deserved, and I'm certain long overdue… but I am glad it was President Obama who chose to recognize your amazing work!
Dr. Greer is a great man and a true doctor in every sense of the word. Very much deserved!
How exactly does treating the homeless advance the cause of freedom. Don't get me wrong, I think his foundation is great and inspiring, but the medal of freedom does not seem to be appropriate here.
In reference to Jorge Vazquez entry I must state that such medal was created by President Harry Truman under Executive Order 9590 on July 21, 1945 and President John F Kennedy expanded its purpose in 1963 by Executive order 11085 adding that recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom could be those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Unites States life in such endeavours as the arts, science, religion, literature, education or community service; therefore, freedom is not only measured by our GIs fighting overseas and they indeed could give, as Abraham Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg address, "their last full measure of devotion" but by all those individuals who perform great deeds to advance the Freedom of Man.
I haven't read much about the accomplishments of Dr. Joe Greer but, if he received such medal, he must have done something to advance the cause of the impoverished and underprivileged in Miami-Dade county and I applaud the effort of anyone who gives of himself or herself to make someone's life just a little bit better.
In reference to Jorge Vazques comment. The homeless are people who are less fortunate than the rest of us, some of this people are war vets, teachers and and even family men and women whom have lost it all. They are a very sad and inhuman reminder that our society is far from perfect, and that we need to work towards programs to better the life of our future children. So that maybe one day we can put and end to hunger and child corruption. This type of work betters the community and ensure that people have the will and respect to keep fighting for freedom and a greater nation. Congratulations Dr Greer for your work on making society a better place for us to live in.
Dr. Greer:
Congratulations and I was so proud to work with you at JMH..
All the best, allways!!