[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     TRIBUTE TO DR. BEVERLY GAINES

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an 
individual who has spent her adult life making significant 
contributions to the Louisville community. Dr. Beverly Gaines, 
pediatrician and secretary of the Jefferson County Medical Society 
board of governors, is a shining example of a successful entrepreneur 
and citizen.
  A native of Columbus OH, Beverly Gaines obtained her undergraduate 
degree from Case Western Reserve University, and went on to graduate 
with honors from the University of Louisville Medical School in 1979. 
Since then, Beverly has been much more than just a doctor to the 
residents of Louisville. Her selfless dedication to caring for others 
has brought respect and admiration from her peers, who describe her as 
a true leader among women, physicians, and African-Americans.
  Today, in addition to her pediatric practice, she serves on the board 
of the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce, sits on the National 
Medical Association Council on medical legislation and is on the 
Visiting Nurse Association professional advisory committee. She 
received the 1993 American Medical Women's Association Community 
Service Award for her efforts in organizing an African-American Health 
Jamboree in Louisville last year. It featured free health screenings, 
immunizations, and offered education on domestic violence and drug 
awareness.
  Mr. President, it is difficult to put into words what her faithful 
and compassionate service has meant to the citizens of Louisville. She 
says she devotes one-half to two-thirds of her time to community 
service, and when asked why, her simple response is that she believes 
there are some things that are above and beyond money. Clearly, Mr. 
President, this is a philosophy everyone should follow.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this 
outstanding Kentuckian who has given so much to the city of Louisville. 
In addition, I ask that a May 30, 1994, article from Business First be 
included in the Record.
  The article follows:

  Dr. Beverly Gaines Likes Making a Difference--Pediatrician Devotes 
               Majority of Her Time to Community Service

                           (By Eric Benmour)

       While growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Beverly M. Gaines 
     got a great deal of support.
       She says her parents were determined that Gaines and her 
     brother ``be something.''
       The ethic in their house was, ``lessons come first and get 
     your education, and then other things are possible.''
       During Derby Week, Gaines needed help taking care of her 
     children--Lisa, 15, and Samuel, 10--because Gaines is on the 
     board of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
       Gaines' mother came from Columbus to stay at Gaines' 
     Hurstbourne-area home to help.
       ``That's the kind of support I have enjoyed all my life,'' 
     she says.
       She also got help from her grade-school teachers.
       ``Those teachers loved us,'' says Gaines, 41. ``You 
     couldn't have told any one of us that we weren't hot-dog 
     wonderful. We had models for success.''
       But Gaines learned early in life that society had different 
     expectations of her than she had about herself--because she's 
     an African American.
       She tells the story of a group of students gathered 
     together to make rounds after an oral examination in medical 
     school at the University of Louisville.
       ``There were four of us, two white males, a white female 
     and myself,'' Gaines recalls. ``Our resident that made rounds 
     with us on Saturday morning said to the one white male he 
     thought was a superior student, `Oh, what did you get, 
     Andrew?' And Andrew said, `I got a 3.5. (out of a possible 4 
     grade-point average).' ''
       The resident praised the student and then asked the next 
     student, who got a 3.0. He gave him praise as well. The girl 
     got a 3.0, Gaines says.
       ``And he said, `Let's start rounds.' We left the residence 
     room and were almost to the area where the patients' charts 
     were located.
       ``And he said, `Oh Beverly, what did you get?' I said, `I 
     got a 4.0.' He said, `Let's start rounds.'
       ``That is the best story I could ever tell you about what 
     my life is like. You can jump through hoops, you can do all 
     the objective measures, you can do all the subjective 
     measures, but your strength has to be from within. Because 
     you do not get that reinforcement outside. And I think that's 
     purely related to race.''
       By any measure today, Gaines has used her strength to be 
     successful and to make an impact in Louisville.
       In addition to her pediatric practice, she serves on the 
     board of the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce; is 
     secretary of the Jefferson County Medical Society board of 
     governors; is a member of the Louisville chapter of Links, a 
     women's organization; sits on the National Medical 
     Association council on medical legislation; is public-affairs 
     committee chairperson for the Falls City Medical Society; and 
     is on the visiting Nurse Association professional advisory 
     committee.
       She also has served on the Leadership Louisville Foundation 
     Inc. board in past and current positions as secretary of the 
     executive committee, and as a member of its finance 
     committee, nominating committee and minority-recruitment 
     committee.
       She received the 1993 American Medical Women's Association 
     Community Service Award.
       Last year, Gaines organized an African-American Health 
     Jamboree. The second, scheduled for June 27, features free 
     health screenings, radon-test kits, smoke detectors, 
     immunizations and healthy snacks. It also offers education on 
     domestic violence, drug awareness and other issues.
       The jamboree has seven sponsors and more than 60 
     exhibitors.
       As a physician, ``I know it's much cheaper to teach people 
     initially to live healthy and keep them healthy than it is to 
     take sick people and try to make them well,'' Gaines says.
       The jamboree grew out of efforts by Gaines to increase 
     radon awareness in the African-American community. Her task 
     was to promote radon awareness through collaborative 
     community efforts and coalition building.
       ``It (the jamboree) was her brainchild,'' says William W. 
     Summers IV, Louisville's deputy mayor.
       When asked how she can do her job and be so involved in 
     community issues, Summers says: ``I think she's like a number 
     of us. You recognize you have a commitment to give something 
     back, and you make time. I think she tends to take advantage 
     of all of her time.''
       An article in a Metro United Way newsletter on Gaines' 
     contribution to the community called her a ``leader'' among 
     women, physicians and African Americans.
       Dr. Ralph Morris, a Louisville physician, agrees Gaines is 
     a leader.
       He cites her ability to tackle projects and see them to 
     completion. For example, she was successful in bringing a 
     regional National Medical Association convention to 
     Louisville in the early 1980s. The National Medical 
     Association is an association of minority doctors.
       The only advice Morris has for Gaines is: ``She needs to 
     slow down. She's working quite hard.
       ``I really have a lot of respect for her,'' he says. ``I 
     marvel at her energy. She's doing this as a single head of 
     household.'' Gaines is divorced.
       State Sen. Gerald Neal worked with Gaines on health care 
     issues that have been debated in the General Assembly. In 
     1992, Gaines was on the Governor's Health Care Task Force.
       Neal described Gaines as ``a person with a lot of energy'' 
     who ``does things, as opposed to talking about them.''
       Neal says he called on Gaines because ``she's active and 
     visible, accessible,'' and she's always willing to help.
       Gaines is asked to be involved because she is ``very open-
     minded,'' says Sharon Williams, a friend and vice president 
     of minority business development with the Louisville Area 
     Chamber of Commerce.
       ``She has natural leadership abilities,'' Williams says. 
     ``She's a very effective communicator. I think she makes 
     people feel comfortable.''
       Also, Gaines is ``assertive,'' Williams says.
       Gaines says she tries not to do too much. With that in 
     mind, in December she resigned from several groups.
       Gaines says she elects to serve on boards or participate in 
     an organization if she believes she can have an impact and 
     add a different viewpoint.
       She says she devotes one-half to two-thirds of her time of 
     community service.
       ``That has a dollar value,'' she says. ``My accountant 
     could tell you that he has reminded me it has a dollar value. 
     But then I think there are some things that are above and 
     beyond money, especially for minorities.
       ``And that, maybe ultimately it will make things better for 
     my business and other people's businesses.''
       Gains learned more about the area in 1987 when she 
     completed the Leadership Louisville program. She came to 
     Louisville in 1977 to attend the University of Louisville 
     Medical School.
       ``I loved it,'' she says of Leadership Louisville. ``I'm a 
     transplant. I've been here since 1977. And I kept my nose to 
     the grindstone and had been very focused.''
       Leadership Louisville was ``like going to school'' and 
     learning about the community, Gaines says. ``It gave me 
     probably the best teaching lesson in how Louisville really 
     runs. It was an eye-opener.''
       During Leadership Louisville she met Christine Johnson, now 
     the president of the organization. Leadership Louisville was 
     founded in 1979 to develop a network of future community 
     leaders.
       ``She has a wonderful laugh and terrific energy, and a very 
     genuine warmth about her that makes her stand out,'' Johnson 
     says. ``She's a delightful person to be around. She has a 
     real zest for life.
       ``There's also a serious side to her. She takes strong 
     positions in meetings. She doesn't hesitate to speak up. She 
     is outspoken. But she doesn't alienate people in the 
     process.''
       Johnson calls Gaines a ``shining example of what Leadership 
     Louisville's all about.''
       Gaines says she isn't sure what the source is of her 
     motivation.
       Perhaps it comes from her parents.
       ``My mother was a driven individual,'' she says. ``She's 
     very aggressive.''
       Her mother, Marie Madry, says she sees a lot of her late 
     husband, Maurice, in Beverly. Maurice Madry died in 1973.
       ``He was a wonderful person,'' says Marie Madry, 77. 
     ``Beverly has his personality. She just loves people, and so 
     did he.''
       Maurice Madry was a landscaper for the city of Columbus. He 
     also sold flowers and vegetables from his own stand.
       Gaines says of her late father: ``My father could meet and 
     greet. He had a high school education. When we sold flowers, 
     winos would speak to him, doctors and lawyers would speak to 
     him. He could just deal with people. I never saw my father 
     mishandle a human being. He was always a kind, respectful 
     individual.
       ``My father died, though, when I was in college,'' she 
     says. She adds that if she has any regret in her life, it's 
     that ``he did not live to see me graduate.'' Gaines has her 
     undergraduate degree in natural sciences from Case Western 
     Reserve University in Cleveland.
       Before speaking about her family, Gaines says she has to 
     reach for the Kleenex.
       ``I came from a family that had real values,'' Gaines says.
       Her only sibling is a brother, Philip, who is five years 
     older. He is a journalist by trade who now works for a youth 
     program in Columbus.
       Because she has a large number of cousins, Gaines never had 
     a baby sitter. She remembers getting together and playing the 
     piano and sewing with her family.
       She always did well in school.
       ``I never thought about not doing well,'' Gaines says. ``I 
     never thought about not doing my work.''
       As for her career choice, Gaines says: ``I wanted to be a 
     doctor since I can remember wanting to be anything.''
       Even when she was small, she would fix her father's cuts.
       ``I loved taking care of his wounds,'' Gaines says. ``And I 
     never wanted to be anything else.''
       The only time she deviated from her desire to be a 
     physician was in college. She joined a pre-med club and heard 
     someone talk about the odds of becoming a physician.
       So Gaines got a minor in education and obtained the 
     credentials needed to teach science in case she didn't get 
     into medical school.
       But she was accepted into the University of Kentucky 
     medical school.
       She got married in her first year of medical school in July 
     1975. Her husband, Samuel, joined her in Lexington to get his 
     master's degree in business administration. After he got his 
     degree, he was looking for a job. He found work with IBM in 
     Louisville. Gaines started at UK and transferred to U of L 
     for her last two years of medical school.
       She finished her postgraduate training in December 1982.
       In January 1983, she began working with a doctor in 
     Indiana. During that time she was pregnant with Samuel, who 
     was born in November 1983.
       Sharon Williams suggested Gaines open her own office. At 
     the time, Williams was with Citizens Fidelity Bank, now PNC 
     Bank.
       Williams says she met Gaines when Gaines took care of 
     Williams' daughter.
       In April 1984, Gaines opened an office with a partner, Ron 
     Jones, at 1170 E. Broadway,
       Jones left in 1987 to take a job offer in Arizona. In the 
     same year, Gaines had back surgery.
       ``1987 was a terrible year, actually. Ron left in '87. We 
     knew before I got sick (injured) he was going to leave. He 
     got a job offer in Phoenix. That was probably the worst thing 
     that happened and the best thing that happened, all in the 
     same ball of wax.
       ``We weren't making that much money. We were seeing 
     patients, but we weren't real good business people, so we 
     weren't good on collections. When he left, because I had 
     never been involved in the business side, I was forced to 
     learn about the buiness. I hired a consultant from my bed, 
     after I had back surgery. And I had back surgery in May; he 
     left in August. I didn't come back to work until September.''
       Gaines' doctor originally had released her to work June 
     1987.
       On her first day back, however, her car was hit from behind 
     while she was driving home from the office.
       She was out about an additional six weeks.
       The consultant she hired to help with her business stayed 
     for two years, initially working every day, one on one. When 
     the consultant left, ``it was like cutting an umbilical 
     cord.''
       ``By mid-'88 I was on a roll,'' Gaines says. ``I was back 
     on my feet.''
       In discussing her medical practice, Gaines notes: ``In 
     medicine, we've always enjoyed a good living. A lot of people 
     are afraid to say that, but I'm not. I make more money than 
     anybody in my family's ever made. If I probably make half 
     next year what I made this year, I'll still make more money 
     than anybody in my family. I'm not afraid to say that.
       ``If I have to make a little less to support health care 
     reform, I could probably live with that. I'm not coming from 
     here (she holds her hand up). I'm coming from here (she 
     lowers her hand). I have too many cousins and uncles and 
     aunts probably who need health insurance. . .''
       Gaines does mention the fact she has a medical license in 
     Florida, and jokes about moving down there and putting up her 
     umbrella on the beach when she's ready to treat patients.
       Gaines got the license in 1991, after a doctor she knows in 
     Miami suggested she take over the doctor's practice there.
       Gaines says she has no plans to move to Florida.
       ``I think you always should keep your options open,'' 
     Gaines says. ``I've had 10 good years,'' she says. ``I'm very 
     grateful for the 10 years I had. I hope I have 10 more like 
     it. I might not.''
       With all her work, she says her only hobbies are her 
     children. Even her daughter has told her, ``you need to get a 
     life.''

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