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Geisel School of Medicine Honors the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo by Rob Strong

Geisel School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during its third annual, “I AM THE DREAM: Past, Present and Future” service awards luncheon on January 17. This year’s “Food is Medicine” theme, centered on King’s civil rights fight to end hunger and food insecurity—he believed food equity is a critical component of social justice. 

Lisa McBride, PhD, associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, welcomed everyone gathered to recognize individuals who have strengthened communities and created solutions to social problems “to move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community where everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate.” 

She encouraged everyone to join Geisel’s #MLKFoodisMedicine initiative that incorporates a variety of supportive programs and services to bridge the connection between food, nutrition, and health in the greater Upper Valley throughout 2025. 

Keynote speaker Gerald Onuoha II, MD, MS’15. Photo by Rob Strong

Keynote speaker Gerald Onuoha II, MD, MS’15, named one of the top 10 doctors under 40 by the National Medical Association, is a leading expert in health equity, and committed to bringing communities together to support equality for everyone. 

He established The Project Dream Community Initiative designed to help underprivileged and underserved students matriculate from high school to college, and on to medical, dental, or graduate school. He also created Everybody vs. Racism, an organization whose mission is to eradicate racism and discrimination of any kind. 

Onuoha talked about the power of unity, the risks associated with progress, and the importance of brotherly love in the continued march for freedom.  

“Dartmouth,” he began, “prepares you to thrive in any challenge.” He said he is proud of Dartmouth because while society now looks through a myopic political lens, the college presses forward with its commitment to unity that began in the early 1800s when the school admitted its first Black medical student—Dr. Samuel Ford McGill. The strides Dartmouth has taken are a beacon of light to the entire nation. 

“Not only are we celebrating King’s legacy, but we are also celebrating ourselves and how far we have come, what remains to be done, and how we as individuals and as a collective, can work towards Dr. King’s dream. 

“Progress is hard, it’s risky, it takes work, and you have to endure the various false starts, rollbacks, and the voices of cynicism,” he said. “Progress is heavy, but it’s fragile. It flickers in dark times and is hard to see … but progress is also nourishing, and it can replenish …. It is a strong foundation to build on and those who endure the hard times can enjoy the fruits of its labor. Progress allows us to keep going, not as the way we were but as a better version of who we will become. 

Photos by Rob Strong

“I think of Dr. King as a prophet of progress … he leaned into his calling of leadership and helped pave the way for who we are today. He understood that the freedom of all people, no matter their color or creed rested on the backs of those who went through the hard struggles … until the most marginalized of us are free, none of us are free.” 

The event also honored Geisel faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners who have demonstrated the ideals, courage, compassion, dignity, humility, and service that exemplified King’s character and empowered his leadership. This year’s I AM THE DREAM awardees are: 

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy AwardSteven D. Leach, MD, Professor of Molecular and Systems Biology, Preston R. and Virginia Kelsey Distinguished Chair in Cancer and Director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center. 
  • Samuel Ford McGill Award—Taylor Cooper MED’25 
  • Distinguished Alumni AwardBonnie An Henderson D’89, MED’93, cataract and refractive surgeon, and president, chief executive officer, and head of Global Innovation and Technology HelpMeSee, Inc. 
  • Outstanding Faculty AwardLawrence Myers, PhD, professor of medical education and of biochemistry and cell biology at Geisel.  
  • Outstanding Staff AwardCarol J. Beach, custodial services at Geisel. 
  • Student of Merit AwardPaulita Lara Mejia MED’26; Peggy-ita Obeng-Nyarkoh MED’27. 
  • Community Champion AwardElizabeth R. Austin, MHA, executive director Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental.
For more information about the I AM THE DREAM event and this year's awardees, please download the event program.

 

If you were unable to attend, you can watch video of the event here: