October 2000 • Post-Assembly Edition • Dallas
First African-American elected to head the Academy
Warren Jones, M.D.
For other election results, see page 3. The Congress of Delegates elected Warren Jones, M.D., of Potomac, Md., as president-elect during the delegates' meeting Sept. 18-20 in Dallas. Jones, a captain in the Navy, is the first African-American chosen to lead the Academy.
Jones, 52, grew up in New Orleans as the ninth of 12 children. He says his mother -- a cook, domestic worker, state leader of the Elks and longtime single parent -- gave the children the values of caring for each other and serving the community. He credits his late father, a chauffeur and delivery man, for challenging the children to use their abilities.
"We were always aware of the political issues around us and their impact on us as African-American children and poor people," says Jones. "But we were not allowed to think anything negative. We were taught education was the key: If you had a good education and coupled it with your abilities, the sky would be the limit."
The family instilled confidence. "Even though we sat in the back of the bus, behind the sign that said 'whites only' on the front and 'colored only' on the back, in my mind, I was always standing beside the bus driver," says Jones.
In the Navy, Jones has been special assistant to the surgeon general; family practice residency director in Pensacola, Fla.; chair of the family practice department in Charleston, S.C.; and director of medical and clinical services for the Pacific region. He is medical director of the Worldwide Tricare Military Health Program.
Within the Academy, he became president of the Uniformed Services AFP Foundation and was active in the National Conference of Special Constituencies.
Jones will serve one-year terms as president-elect, president and Board chair.
After the election Sept. 20, Jones introduced his wife, Gennie, to the Congress of Delegates. He suggested, "If we look in other than the usual and customary places, other than the usual and customary faces, just maybe we'll find those very special people who can help us reach our goals of providing quality health care and meeting the health needs of all of our people."
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2000 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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