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by Abdallah Al-Obaidi

When I was 6, my family fled Iraq, seeking refuge in Jordan. For eight long years, we lived there as non-citizens, devoid of health insurance and struggling with financial hardships. In 2013, our journey led us to the United States, where I yearned for an opportunity to carve out a better future for myself while extending a helping hand to others.

My tenure at Emory University saw me evolve to become a medical interpreter and an EMT. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of language barriers and the importance of understanding medical treatment, I felt compelled to delve deeper into the field of medicine. However, as a first-generation American and the first aspiring doctor in my family, I faced a daunting path with no clear starting point. Undeterred, I reached out to local doctors in the Atlanta community, seeking guidance and mentorship. Despite sending out numerous emails, I received no response—until Dr. Kelli, graciously, broke the silence and introduced me to Young Physician Initiative (YPI).

My involvement with YPI was transformative. Through hands-on experiences, I gained invaluable insights and skills. From designing “The Road to Medicine” flyer to assisting in organizing a doctor-for-a-day conference in Georgia, I found myself immersed in a wealth of knowledge and connected to a network of physicians, all thanks to YPI.

Today, as I embark on my fourth year of medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine, I’ve initiated the YPI program here, now in its third year. Together, we’re planning the second doctor-for-a-day conference in Boston, aiming to empower students from underserved backgrounds, much like myself, who lack familial ties to the medical profession.

Through YPI, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact mentorship and community support can have on aspiring healthcare professionals. As I continue on my journey, I remain committed to paying forward the guidance and opportunities that have shaped my path.

Dr. John  Cantwell is a third- generation   physician from Wisconsin, who is the father of a physician and a nurse. He is a cardiologist with the Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta, GA.

He attended Duke University where he majored in English, participated in varsity basketball, and was a member of Duke’ s first ACC championship team. After graduating from Northwestern Medical School, he interned at the University of Florida and obtained a medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic. Post­ doctoral fellowships in cardiology were served at the University of California, San Diego, and Emory University.

Dr. Cantwell is a Fellow in the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Sports Medicine, also a Master in the American College of Physicians. He has been a consultant to the President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, and served as a team physician for the Atlanta Braves for 41 seasons (1976-2016). He continues to work with Georgia Tech athletic screening and the Georgia Special Olympics. He was president of the Association of Major League Baseball Team Physicians in 2000. He co-founded the first outpatient Cardiac Rehab Program in Georgia in 1970 and opened the Preventive Cardiology Clinic in 1972, which was one of the first in the country.

Dr. Cantwell enjoys creative writing, reading, mountain trekking, and participation sports with his wife, two children and six grandchildren. He is an active member of the Explorers Club and has enjoyed adventure travels to all seven continents. Most recently, he and his wife participated in medical mission trips to Bhutan and Cambodia. He is a charter member of his high school’ s Sports Hall of Fame for his football, basketball, and baseball exploits, and still holds the school’s career basketball scoring record.

Awards and honors include the Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll for Scholarship and Athletics, the Aven Cup (highest award of the Medical Association of Atlanta), and the Morehouse Medical School Award of Excellence (other recipients include Archbishop Tutu, Jane Fonda, Lennie Wilkens, and Edwin Moses), and a 3- time winner of the Montague Boyd award for medical writing and editing. Dr. Cantwell served as editor of the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia from 1999-2003. In 2007 he received the Mayo Clinic Alumni Association’s Professional Achievement Award for exceptional work as a clinician, researcher, and educator. In 2008 Georgia Trend magazine cited him as one of their five “Healthcare Heroes” in the state. In 2011 he was honored with a mastership in the American College of Physicians.

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

Our Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award honors an adult or pediatric cardiologist or cardiovascular surgeon who has provided outstanding contributions to medicine through patient care, medical education, teaching, research or community service as a member of the Georgia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and whose lifetime of service deserves special recognition.

Previous recipients include: Drs. Spencer King, William Plauth, Walker Beeson, Robert Ellison, Willis Hurst, Bruce Logue, Stephen Clements, Willis Williams, Nanette Wenger, John Douglas, Robert Franch, Stanley Sherman, Charles Wickliffe, Douglas Morris, Paul Douglass and Kenneth Dooley.

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Dr. Jerre F. Lutz , a native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, attended Emory University, where he met his future wife Carlin, both graduating with honors (Phi Beta Kappa). He then entered Emory School of Medicine, graduating in 1972, again with honors. He completed a residency in internal medicine, also at Emory, followed by a fellowship in cardiology. He was Chief Resident at Grady Hospital in 1976-77.

Dr. Lutz joined the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander and was assigned as Chief of Noninvasive Cardiology at the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego, where he taught house staff while practicing cardiology at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. There he received a call from Dr. J. Willis Hurst who asked him to join the Emory faculty as Medical Director of the Cardiac Catherization Lab at Grady Hospital. After a brief stint at Crawford Long, he moved back to Emory as an Associate Professor, opening multiple clinics and catherization labs across the state. He served as Medical Director of the CCU at Emory until 2011 and as Medical Director of the Emory Heart Transplant Program until 1992. He also initiated and supervised the transition of the patients with congenital heart disease from CHOA to Emory.

Dr. Lutz is credited with being one of the early leaders of our Chapter that established the framework for the success we now enjoy. His leadership as Chapter Governor and President from 2001-2004 helped us develop the support of industry necessary to draw the outstanding faculty and large crowds that are now the hallmarks of our annual meeting.

Dr. Lutz has also led our Chapter’s efforts on the national level through his leadership at the annual ACC Legislative Conference and ACCPAC. He served a member of the ACC Government Relations Committee and Advocacy Committee and as our representative for ten years to ACCPAC. He is one of the 25 charter members of ACCPAC. He was recently named to the first class of the ACCPAC Advisory Board. Dr. Lutz also served on the GA/AHA Board of Directors for nine years.

Jerre and Carlin have been married for 46 years and have three sons, Jason, Brian and Drew, and six grandchildren. Jerre has coached soccer for 27 years with multiple divisional and state championships, is an avid golfer and spends many hours working on his home and acreage in Stone Mountain.