Medical student banquet to be Jan. 22

GREENVILLE, N.C. —   A top U.S. health official will motivate students to lead during the 27th annual Andrew A. Best M.D. Senior Recognition Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 22, for graduating minority medical students.

The speaker will be Dr. Garth N. Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health in the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University.

Graham is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and serves as a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health. The Business Network Journal named him one of its top 40 leaders under 40.

The event is sponsored by the ECU Student National Medical Association.

Best was Greenville’s first black physician. He died in 2005.

Ticket and other information is available by calling 252-328-0607 or e-mailing harrisjen@ecu.edu.