Black Health Magazine Salutes The Top 25 Most Influential African Americans...

In Healthcare, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals and Healthy Foods Industries In A Commemorative Black History Issue

(Press Release) - Black Health magazine, a bimonthly healthy living publication, releases its 3rd Annual Commemorative Black History month issue which recognizes the “Top 25 Most Influential African-Americans” in the healthcare, medical, pharmaceutical and nutritional food industries. The commemorative issue will be available on newsstands nationwide beginning February 2, 2010.

“A limited number of African-Americans actually occupy senior-level management and/or executive positions at many of the country’s Fortune 100 companies; thus, it was challenging to narrow down the honorees. We kept striking out as we went from company to company in search of these remarkable individuals, but we persevered,” said Marcus Oaks, publisher of Black Health magazine.

“I am exceptionally proud of this year’s Black History month issue. It is non-traditional in its style as well as its focus on the future legends: those who are currently making history and carving cornerstones for our children and grandchildren," Oaks added. "George Washington Carver once said: 'Since new developments are the products of a creative mind, we must therefore stimulate and encourage that type of mind in every way possible.' We have tried to create a magazine which does that: stimulate and encourage minds in diverse ways."

Our primary reason for creating a Black History issue was to expose a variety of leaders, in a range of careers, to our nation’s high school and college students. It is our hope that the commemorative issue will serve as an empowerment tool to stimulate the career paths of high school students or recent college graduates who aspire to become leaders in the in the research, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

“I started my career producing public affairs television programs and made the decision almost 20 years ago to switch to health care, first focusing on the provider side, and then on the drug research and development side. My family has been able to travel and experience different cultures and my children have been exposed to a broad spectrum of industries and career choices. They now understand the connection between education and personal and financial rewards,” said Mary Stutts, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations for Elan Pharmaceuticals, and Top 25 honoree.

History is a process that involves a cumulative series of events: hardships, successes, failures, disappointments, and eventual triumphs. Our 25 African- American pioneers exemplify what Black History month is all about. Through our honorees, generations will learn of the many great leaders within these organizations, who, through their voices, helped shaped their company’s successful direction and mold the future for leaders to come.

The Top 25 Most Influential African-Americans are listed below:

1. Mary Stutts - Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, Elan Pharmaceuticals
2. Myrtle Potter – President/CEO, The Myrtle Potter Company
3. Lonnel Coats – President/COO, Eisai Pharmaceutical
4. Dr. James Benton – RC Cancer Centers
5. Bernard Tyson – Kaiser Permanente
6. Dr. Ted Love – Former President and CEO, Nuvelo Pharmaceuticals
7. Dr. Reed Tuckson – Chief of Medical Affairs, United Health Group
8. Kenneth Frazier – Executive VP and President, Global Human Health, Merck, Inc.
9. Mirian M. Graddick-Weir – Executive VP, Human Resources, Merck, Inc.
10. Derica Rice – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eli Lilly Company
11. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey – President and CEO, Robert Woods Foundation
12. Abigail Roddie-Hamlin – Executive Vice President, Community Outreach, American Cancer Society
13. Dr. Robert R. Ross – President and CEO, California Endowment
14. Dr. Freda C. Lewis-Hall – Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer, Inc.
15. Esther Silver Parker – Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Wal-Mart Stores (Community Champion Award)
16. Susan Jones – Senior Director and Acting Head of Genentech Partnering, Genentech, Inc.
17. Ronald A. Williams – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aetna Inc.
18. Robin L. Washington –Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gilead Sciences, Inc.
19. Clay Osborne – Vice President, Human Resources and Talent Management, Bausch & Lomb
20. Dr. Eugene Washington – Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of California at San Francisco
21. Dr. David Satcher – Former US Surgeon General, Morehouse School of Medicine (Healthcare Champion Award)
22. John J. Harris – Executive Vice President, Chairman and CEO, Nestle Waters
23. R. Christopher Seaton - Senior Vice President, Global Transactions, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
24. Michael Paul – Company Group Chairman, Diabetes Care Franchise, Johnson and Johnson
25. Maxine Brown-Davis – Retired Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President, Procter and Gamble Company
26. Angela Joyner – Vice President and General Manager of the Refrigerated Portfoio, Conagra Foods
27. N. Anthony Coles M.D. – President and CEO, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

For more information or interviews with Publisher or any honoree, please contact Marcus Oaks at (404) 358-0712 or mdoaks5@blackhealthmag.com or Shani Collins at scollins@blackhealthmag.com