United HomeCare Services honors FIU community leader


MIAMI (June 8, 2009) – Dr. Pedro José “Joe” Greer, chair of the Department of Humanities, Health & Society at FIU’s College of Medicine, has been recognized as one of the honorees at the 15th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony & 35th Anniversary Celebration Dinner presented by Advanced Care Solutions.

From left to right, Dr. Joe Greer, Janus Greer, Jose Fox, CEO of United HomeCare, Martha Rock and Dr. John Rock, founding dean of the FIU College of Medicine.

From left to right, Dr. Joe Greer, Janus Greer, Jose Fox, CEO of United HomeCare, Martha Rock and Dr. John Rock, founding dean of the FIU College of Medicine.

The award, organized by United HomeCare Services, honors the memory of U.S. Senator Claude Pepper (1900-1989) by bestowing recognition to individuals and institutions that have made a significant contribution to the needs of the elderly and/or disabled in Miami-Dade County.

Greer was presented with the Community Builder Award on May 21 for his efforts to bring health care to disenfranchised and underserved communities for more than two decades.

Recognized by Presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter for his innovative solutions to gaps in the healthcare system that leave many Miami residents without quality health services, Greer is the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides healthcare to persons who are homeless, and the St. John Bosco Clinic, which assists undocumented immigrants.

He is also the recipient of three Papal Medals as well as the prestigious MacArthur “genius grant”. He currently has a joint private practice with his father, Pedro Greer, Sr. Greer’s autobiography, “Waking Up in America: How One Doctor Brings Hope to Those Who Need It Most”, details his early years as a physician delivering care to patients living under highway overpasses in Miami.

At FIU College of Medicine, Greer will help implement a community-oriented approach to health care and work with medical students throughout their training.

“I want FIU to set the pace in medical education,” Greer said. “Miami is the greatest classroom. Here we can take the best and brightest and turn them into the best and brightest, not just into run-of-the-mill doctors.”

Pamela M. Silva, Univision-23 anchorwoman and reporter, served as Emcee at the awards ceremony. Recording artist Ana Cristina, a Miami singer, performed during the dinner.

Other honorees included Dennis Pastrana, president & CEO of Goodwill Industries, who received the Corporate Service Award; Kevin S. Kearns, president & CEO of Health Choice Network, who received the Corporate Service Healthcare Award; U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami), who received the Public Service Award; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, who received the Thelma Gibson Community Service Award; and Jay Weaver, reporter for The Miami Herald, who received the Media/Public Awareness Award.

For more information, please call 305-328-0875 or visit www.unitedhomecare.com.

-FIU-

About FIU:
Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.

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