RIO BRANCO, Brazil Dr. Alberto Asael Reyes speaks Portuguese carefully when talking to his patients. He arrived in the Amazon region only recently from Cuba, and his accent remains strong. But in an area where there has long been no available physician, he often needs to introduce residents to new words and concepts.

"Rheu-ma-to-lo-gist," Vinicius, a thin, shy 11-year-old, utters slowly after meeting with Reyes. Though Vinicius has had severe fevers and heart problems since birth, no one had told him he needed to see one.

"No one would come here," says Maria Elena Brito da Silva, a teacher at the school down the road here in the outskirts of the city. "All the doctors stayed in their private practices in the city [center] making money."

These days, patients receive free consultations with Reyes, 41, at this outlying government-run health center, among the first of a group of about 11,000 Cuban physicians headed to Brazil.

Faced with a severe shortage, the government of left-of-center President Dilma Rousseff is importing 13,000 foreign doctors by May to serve the poor and those in inadequately served rural areas.

Proponents say Brazil's Mais Medicos (More Doctors) program, which has faced opposition from the country's Medical Assn., is already providing relief.

"They're being received very, very well by patients," says Marcia Corsini, who is coordinating the new arrivals at the City Hall in Rio Branco, capital of the state of Acre. "In truth, we could use more of them soon."

Brazil has seen a rapid increase in wealth during the last decade, and more than 40 million people have risen from poverty into the middle class. But as the country prepares to take the global stage as host of the 2014 World Cup, much of the population has not seen commensurate improvements in public services.

Brazil's Constitution calls for free care for all citizens who have no private plan, but in reality that remains little more than a promise. Neglected communities, long lines and bloody tragedies are often easier to stumble upon than an available doctor.

The government says Brazil has 360,000 active doctors and can use 160,000 more. Most doctors are concentrated in the richest areas: The state of Rio de Janeiro has more than three doctors per 1,000 residents, compared with less than one per 1,000 people in Acre, far away on the Bolivian and Peruvian borders.

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Brazil's president imports Cuban doctors to ease shortage

Feb. 26, 1922 Dec. 30, 2013

Rebecca Savage, a licensed practical nurse and the longest-standing member of St. John Baptist Church, died Monday in her Buffalo home. She was 91.

Born in Camden, S.C., the youngest of five children, the former Rebecca McCarley came to Buffalo at age six months. She was the daughter of Rev. Burnie C. McCarley, the founder of St. John Baptist Church.

She attended School 75, Hutchinson Central High School, the Fosdick-Masten School of Practical Nursing, and Sawyer Business School.

Mrs. Savage began working as a licensed practical nurse at the Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1960 and took a medical retirement in 1972 due to failing health.

The mother of six, she took part in many activities at St. John Baptist Church and was a member the Bells of St. John Choir, the Pastor Chapman Support Group and the Senior Fellowship.

She also was a member of Paramount Chapter 57, Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star; the AARP and the Fosdick Masten Practical Nurses Alumni Association. She was a former commandress of Hadji Court 62, Daughters of Isis.

Her husband of 36 years, John Wesley Savage, died in 1975. She married Edward Brown in 1979. He died in 1989.

She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Jones and Deana Vinson; two sons, Burnie and Gregory; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held noon Monday in St. John Baptist Church, 184 Goodell St.

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Rebecca Savage, longest-standing member of St. John Baptist Church

Once a year, R. Gopalakrishnan, an eminent cardiologist based in Pittsburgh, visits India for pilgrimages. This year too, he landed in the city, but for a different kind of pilgrimage meeting his classmates and reminiscing about college days at the Madras Medical Colleges Golden Jubilee Reunion of the 1964 batch of MBBS and BDS students on the college premises on Saturday.

More than 100 alumni belonging to the 1964 batch of MMC along with their relatives, gathered at the college for a reunion sharing old memories and other developments since their previous get-together on the same premises in 2000.

I find it difficult to recognise many of my classmates here, but the idea of meeting them alone made me enthusiastic to attend the event, said well-built, grey-haired, K. Sadasivam, who flew in from Kuala Lumpur to participate in the meet.

The reunion had individual and group photo sessions of classmates for a commemorative mug, a thanksgiving session for teachers, and a lot of time spent in talking about days of yore.

But the most interesting part of the event was the four-hour-long slideshow where an old photograph of each student of the class was displayed, and they were introduced to the gathering, and asked to share memories as well as their current status.

When the emcee S. Nedunchezian, introduced T. Mangayarkarasi, a general practitioner, to the audience, she asked a question an answer to which had eluded her for 50 years: she wanted to know why her classmates used to shout frog whenever she entered the classroom. Immediately, 67-year-old S. Subash, one of the organisers, a gastroenterologist, quipped that it was because they thought her voice was like that of a frog. The audience burst into laughter.

Sharing an incident from their college days, D. Yogam from Salem said that when a group of his classmates that included Rajan Santosham, one of the organisers of the meet, and professor of thoracic surgery, Cancer Institute (Adyar), went for a film during their second year, Dr. Santosham was stopped at the ticket counter by the staff who asked him how could they bring a high school student to a cinema theatre.

Likewise, when Dr. T. Rajamanickam, another participant, tried to convince his professor to allow him to write his examinations despite low attendance in pathology, he was told by his professor that he should try writing one paper each year, instead of all in a single year, as that would give him more time to prepare for the examinations.

Except for a few doctors such as Dr. Santosham and C.S. Vijayashankar, senior cardio-thoracic surgeon, most of MMCs 1964 batch has settled abroad, mainly in the US and UK. However, after a year-long effort in which the internet played a key role, the organisers managed to contact the alumni and bring them together.

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When the air was thick with memories

The county Superintendent of Schools has resigned to take a job with a national organization dedicated to all children getting an equal chance for a quality education.

Robert Kelty announced his resignation Friday, but he will stay on until a new superintendent is picked by the countys Board of Supervisors. His new job will be for Teach for America as senior managing director of regional alumni support.

Its been an honor to be a public servant for effective government and an honor to fight for the social contract of public schooling, Kelty said, adding that his favorite part of the job has been when hes been able to deliver on that social contract.

His goal has been to reconcile the battle between the sides of setting of tax rates and advocating for superior schools in the county.

He said he has enjoyed engaging both sides of argument, and worked to come out on the side of: We both win when the kids win.

In a prepared statement, Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Ryan said, Robert has acted as a champion for our students, teachers and families in his relentless pursuit to ensure each has the tools needed to excel. Through his leadership, investment in our schools and families, and innovative ideas, Robert helped to expand educational outlets and programs throughout the county.

Among some of Keltys accomplishments:

Introduced special education services for preschoolers in Supai.

Started the KinderCamp kindergarten preparation program countywide.

Secured additional technology and Internet connectivity for the countys most rural schools.

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County schools superintendent Kelty set to resign

Our weekly feature called A Newsmaker You Should Know highlights achievements by just some of the many West residents whose accomplishments are noteworthy. Heres a recap of our West newsmakers for 2013:

Jason Adkins, a Heidelberg volunteer firefighter, fought a fire that destroyed his own home on First Street. Friends and neighbors pitched in to help his family.

Nick Andrews was recognized for his business success with the Penn State Beaver Outstanding Alumni Award. In 1977, he formed Andrews Industrial Controls Inc. in Carnegie.

Scott Baker, president of 5 Generation Bakers in McKees Rocks, presented a $300 check and a certificate for a one-year supply of Jenny Lee cinnamon swirl bread to Ada Fiscus of McKees Rocks, who purchased the 1 millionth loaf from the bakery.

Faith Beegle of Beaver Falls, a registered nurse at Heritage Valley Sewickley, was named a Heritage Valley Health System Cameo of Caring Awardee for her exceptional work in health care.

Steve Beuter, who had worked three years as an administrative assistant in Carnegie, was named the borough's manager in August. He followed Jeff Harbin, who retired in June.

Aaron Bibro, Robinson manager for four years, stepped down in April to accept a job as township manager of Hatfield, Montgomery County. He had been assistant manager for one year before becoming manager.

The Rev. Ed Bowen, former pastor of Crafton United Presbyterian Church, established a charitable fund as a permanent endowment to improve the playground at Crafton Elementary School.

Rhonda Brightwell, a registered nurse on the Level 2 Medical Unit at Heritage Valley Beaver, was honored for her passion for her profession at the 15th Cameo of Caring Awards. She has been at the Beaver facility since November 2006.

Sharon Loughran Brown, a career educator with about 30 years of experience as a teacher and principal, became principal of Our Lady of Grace School in Scott.

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Resume: Newsmakers you met in 2013 across the West

Editors Note: Sun Spots deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for the next weeks paper.

JAN. 5

The Coffee County Training/Coppinville High School Alumni Association will meet Sunday, Jan. 5, at 5 p.m. at Coppinville Junior High School.

JAN. 11

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Chapter 373, will hold its regular monthly meeting Saturday, Jan. 11 at 9 .m. at the Clayhatchee Community House. All members are encouraged to attend. For more information, call (334) 598-8804.

JAN. 14

The Enterprise Civitan Club meets Jan. 14 at Po Folks Restaurant on Boll Weevil Circle in Enterprise. The scheduled speaker is Harolynn Benjamin, director of Christian Missions Womens Center. Members planning to eat are encouraged to arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. meeting. Visitors are always welcome and membership is open to anyone age 18 or older. For more information, call club president Pat Goodson at 347-5961 or club secretary Barbara Young at 347-2000.

JAN. 15

Public Service Commissioner Place 2 candidates Jonathan Barbee, Chip Beeker and Phillip Brownwill be sharing their goals for this office and their stand on using coal and other environmental questions at the Republican Women of Coffee Countys first meeting of 2014 on Jan. 15, from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Enterprise Country Club. Questions and answers will follow. All who are interested in hearing the candidates are welcome to attend. Call Jan White for more information at 464-3763.

ONGOING

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SUN SPOTS

News Release: FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida A&M University (FAMU) biology student Haleem Brown, 19, has been named the first of five FAMU students who will receive a Tom Joyner Foundation Hercules Scholarship during the month of January.

The scholarship is being awarded in conjunction with the foundations School of the Month recognition program, which highlights FAMU as its January School of the Month. Joyner will announce the scholarship recipients each Thursday in this month and recognized Brown on todays airing of the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Brown, an Apopka, Fla., native, holds a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend medical school in order to pursue a career in health care. When hes not hitting the books, he dedicates his free time to serving as a mentor and volunteer basketball coach to high school students at the FAMU Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS).

I really believe in doing whatever I can to help people and make a difference in the community, said Brown, who explained that witnessing his mother face diabetes, and watching people in his community struggle in various ways, inspired him to help others through health care and volunteerism.

It is Browns passion for learning and giving back that has earned him the honor of being a recipient of the Hercules Scholarship. As a Hercules Scholar, Brown, a freshman, will be awarded $1,500 to use toward tuition, books and on-campus living.

I dont do it just for recognition, Brown said after learning of the honor. I do it because its the right thing to do helping others is the right thing to do. Its in my heart and my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and former teammates helped to instill it in me.

As he continues to strive toward academic excellence, Brown said he would stop at nothing to live out his personal motto, He aint heavy, hes my brother, which reflects his passion for lifting others up.

The Hercules Scholarship is awarded to male students who exhibit leadership skills, are active in the community and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA. Additionally, scholarship recipients must plan to embark in a career that will positively impact the quality of life of others.

As a part of the School of the Month recognition, the Tom Joyner Foundation will partner with FAMU throughout the year in a fundraiser that serves to challenge FAMU alumni and supporters to make record-breaking donations toward providing more scholarships to deserving students.

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FAMU’s Haleem Brown Earns Tom Joyner Foundation Hercules Scholarship

And so 2013 draws to a close:

September

Lt. Detective Mike Stewart was named as the new chief of the Scituate Police Department. A Scituate native and graduate of Scituate High School, Stewart has served the Town of Scituate for more than 30 years. He began his career in law enforcement as a patrolman in 1983. The new chief comes from a long line of public servants. His late father was Scituates fire chief. His great grandfather was a police chief back in the 1930s. His sister is a captain with the State Police. There are nurses and teachers in the family as well. The previous Scituate Police Chief, Brian Stewart, who stepped down over the summer, is Stewarts uncle. Stewart earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Western New England College, and served as a member of the FBI-led Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force. He has also worked closely with the Scituate School Department.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has approved the Boston-based company, Daedalus, as the Owners Project Manager (OPM) for the Gates Intermediate School project. The company will oversee the feasibility study and schematic design phase of the project.

Scituate Council on Aging Director Florence Choate announced she would be retiring in December. Pointing out that she is a senior herself, Choate said she plans to spend more time with her family. She said she would miss the seniors the most, and that she has met so many wonderful people through her position.

Phillips Candy House matriarch Ann Sammartino celebrates her 100th birthday and remembers her sweet life.

The Town of Scituate will be filing an appeal with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) questioning the assumptions made in the calculations of the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The town has engaged a consultant to analyze the maps. Officials said they felt FEMA got some of the data wrong.

The Scituate Families, Adolescents and Communities Together Against Substances (FACTS) Coalition has been selected to receive funding from a federal grant to continue its efforts to involve and engage the community in measures to prevent substance abuse among young people.

October

Assistant School Superintendent Jill Proulx announced that the Scituate School District is outperforming the state in all subject ELA (English Language Arts), Math and Science - on MCAS. The results were from 2012-2013 MCAS testing. Proulx said that 86 percent of Scituate students are scoring proficient/advanced in ELA, 82 percent are scoring proficient/advanced in Math, and 71 percent are scoring proficient/advanced in Science. She also gave a summary of performance for the individual schools.

Continue reading here:
Scituate Year in Review: Month by Month - Sept through Dec

Resident Medical School Career Path Sasha E. Andrews, M.D. Baylor College of Medicine MFM Fellowship David R. Benavides, M.D. UT Medical Branch at Galveston Private Practice Stephanie Chang, M.D. UT Southwestern Medical School Academic Teaching Catherine A. Chappell, M.D. UT Southwestern Medical School Infectious Disease Fellowship Karen C. Creed, M.D. Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University Private Practice Heather Holder Gardow, M.D. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Academic Teaching Meadow M. Good, D.O. Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Rebecca A. Gray, M.D. University of Kentucky College of Medicine Private Practice Pamela Kothari, M.D. University of Florida School of Medicine-Gainesville Academic Teaching Jessica W. McCullough, M.D. University of South Carolina School of Medicine Private Practice Jennifer L. Muller, M.D. UT Medical Branch at Galveston Pelvic Surgery Fellowship David B. Nelson, M.D. University of Arkansas School for Medical Sciences MFM Fellowship Wendy C. Parnell, M.D. Temple University School of Medicine Private Practice Brock L. Pierce, M.D. UT Health Science Center-San Antonio Private Practice Cristina E. Perez, M.D. UT Southwestern Medical School Private Practice Jessica M. Salinas, M.D. UT Southwestern Medical School Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Robert D. Stewart, M.D. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center MFM Fellowship Candice E. Walker, M.D. UT Southwestern Medical School Private Practice Brent B. Whiddon, M.D. University of Alabama Medical Center-Birmingham Private Practice

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Alumni - Residency Program - Department of Obstetrics and ...

The name of one Duval County high school Nathan B. Forrest High has caused contention for years because its namesake was one of the first Ku Klux Klan leaders.

However, there are dozens of other schools in Duval County emblazoned with all or part of a persons name. They are immortalized on report cards and sports jerseys. Their names will be repeated for decades by alumni, who as children once lingered in the schools halls, even if they dont know the man or woman behind the name.

Jacksonville has been reminded who Nathan B. Forrest was, but what about the others? The ones who kept to the straight and narrow? The ones whose legacies would never prompt emergency School Board meetings?

Here are biographies of eight Duval County elementary, middle and high schools. Within this quick snapshot are men and women who fought for civil rights, built institutions and left legacies that shaped Jacksonville.

MAMIE AGNES JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Born in 1879, Mamie Agnes Jones taught for about 70 years, dedicating her energy to molding Northeast Floridas youth from when she was 16 until her elderly years. She attended Florida State College for Women, now Florida State University, to get her teaching certification after she was widowed. Over the course of her life, she taught in Duval, Orange, Levy and Nassau counties. Her surviving relatives described her as kind-hearted woman who saw the potential in everyone. She personally coached a young black man who worked in her home, helping to get him enrolled in high school and then college despite racial barriers to education. He later became a professor in California. Even after she retired, she kept teaching by running a kindergarten out of her house. She believed strength came from within a person, said Laura Jones, her granddaughter-in-law.

SALLYE B. MATHIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Sallye Brooks Mathis, born in Jacksonville, fought racial and gender barriers during the 1970s going toe-to-toe with segregationists and city councilmen alike to become one of the first women elected to the City Council. Born to a furniture salesman and a schoolteacher, she attended Stanton High School , earned her bachelors from Tuskegee Institute and her masters in education and guidance from Florida A&M University. She worked in the Duval County public school system for about 20 years. She taught geography and civics and then became a middle school dean. She got involved in civil rights work after retiring. Standing in picket lines outside City Hall, she faced men who threatened her with baseball bats but remained undaunted. She fought to end segregation in Jacksonville when the city delayed desegregating classrooms for at least 10 years after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. In 1967, she was elected to the City Council and championed efforts to help African-Americans, the elderly and low-income residents. Some reports called her a fighter, as she often called out other members of the council as racists when they voted down measures that would help the African-American community. During her time on the council, her city hall cubicle contained a Bible, a prayer book and a sign that said: God so loved the world He didnt send a committee.

SADIE T. TILLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Sadie T. Tillis, an elementary and middle school teacher, saw that her students needed help that went beyond the classroom. She partnered with local health agencies to build community programs to improve her students home lives. When her school, Morse Elementary, grew and moved to a new location, she became the principal. Her career included 25 years at that school and about 40 years total in the Duval County public school system. Morse Elementary was renamed in her honor in the 1990s.

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In hubbub about Jacksonville school's name, here are some more quietly immortalized