Cedric Bright, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Departments of Medicine and Community and Family Medicine at Duke University Medical Center, was installed as the 112^th President of the National Medical Association on July 26, 2011. Immediately following the installation ceremony, a reception was held in his honor co-sponsored by the IPC, Brown Alumni Association, and Brown Medical School.

Featured speakers at the event included Dr. Levi Adams, Vice President Emeritus of the University and founding faculty advisor of the Brown Black Pre-Med Society; Todd Andrews ’83, Vice President of Alumni Relations; and Dr. Matthew Thomas ’85, friend and classmate of Dr. Bright, who introduced the guest of honor. In addition to friends, family and NMA members, Brown alums of all ages attended the reception and everyone enjoyed the fellowship and networking.

Bright, also a staff physician at the Durham VA Medical Center, is president of the Old North State Medical Society and of the Durham Academy of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. He has been a member of the American Medical Association, The Society of General Internal Medicine and the North Carolina Medical Society. He also has served on several state task forces and sits on a review panel for the state Medicare formulary. In each capacity, Bright has championed parity in access and best practices to meet the needs of the most vulnerable citizens.

He also is a member of the board of the Student National Medical Association and mentors under-represented minority and majority students as they pursue health careers.

In Durham, Bright is a past chairman of the Lincoln Community Health Center Board of directors, served on the Durham County Hospital Corporation Board and is a member of the Durham Coalition-Healthy People 2010 steering committee. With members of the Durham Academy of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, he provides community care through the Morreene Road Community and Morning Glory Senior Villages Health Empowerment Programs.

A 1985 graduate of Brown, he received his M.D. degree from the University of North Caroline School of Medicine in 1990. Dr. Bright did his training in General Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, a Brown University affiliate, graduating in 1993.

Watch the video of Dr. Bright’s installation here:

The National Medical Association (NMA) is the oldest and largest nonprofit professional, educational, national and scientific organization representing 50,000 African American physicians and the millions of multi-ethnic patients they serve. While throughout its history the NMA has focused primarily on health issues related to African Americans and medically underserved populations, its principles, goals, initiatives and philosophy encompass all sectors of the population.

Following the installation, a reception was held in Dr. Bright’s honor hosted by the Brown Alumni Association, Inman Page Black Alumni Council, Brown Club of Washington, D.C., Warren Alpert Medical School, and the Multicultural Alumni Committee.