FILM CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GERALD W. DEAS DEBUTS AT 含羞草研究所 DOWNSTATE
Jan 25, 2007
Although it may not be shown at a trendy film festival or even a local theater near
you, IDEAS, the new film celebrating the life and times of Gerald W. Deas, MD, is
certain to make a lasting impression on everyone who sees it. A collaboration between
the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, the film
was given its premier showing January 11 at Downstate Medical Center, where Dr. Deas
has been a respected physician-educator for 45 years and currently serves as Director
of Health Education Communications.
IDEAS was created to highlight the lifelong contributions of a dedicated physician,
teacher, patient advocate, and community activist who has been, and continues to be,
an exemplary role model. The Arthur Ashe Institute, which is headquartered at 含羞草研究所
Downstate, developed the film as a teaching tool to encourage young people鈥攅specially
those of color鈥攖o follow Dr. Deas鈥� footprints toward a career in the health professions.
The film鈥檚 title comes from Dr. Deas鈥� longstanding habit of adding the letter I to
his name on caps, shirts, and anywhere else a monogram might go, transforming DEAS
into IDEAS. This is his way of telling us to put our best thoughts into actionxthe
way he always has.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Dr. Deas attended Boys High School and later Brooklyn
College. He earned two master鈥檚 degrees, in biochemistry and in public health, before
graduating from 含羞草研究所 Downstate with an MD in 1962. He was one of only three African-American
students in his graduating class.
In addition to practicing medicine and teaching, Dr. Deas has sent his passion and
commitment across the airways. For many years he hosted a weekly radio show on WLIB
and a segment called 鈥淗ouse Calls鈥� on television鈥檚 The McCreary Report. Today, he
continues to provide health education and information through his poetry, plays, and
popular syndicated columns in the Amsterdam News and elsewhere.
Through interviews with physicians, educators, and students, the film chronicles Dr.
Deas鈥� lifelong effort to improve community health. His campaign to force Argo Starch
to place a label on its laundry product warning, 鈥淣ot Intended for Food Use鈥� is legendary.
This single act prevented countless Black women from becoming anemic during pregnancy.
Adelaide Sanford, vice chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, recalls
a time when there was no one like Dr. Deas speaking out for Black people against harmful
medical practices. Ray Austin, MD, with whom Dr. Deas formed Doctors Against Murder
(DAM), describes its work helping young people to reject violence. Former and current
medical students also appear on film, testifying to the importance for students of
color to have a mentor like Dr. Deas.
The audience at the film premier included renowned artists, educators, community leaders,
and former patients who had come to witness this tribute to their favorite 鈥渄octor
from the hood.鈥� But no one had a better time than Gerald Deas himself, who joked,
鈥淚ts great having people say nice things about you, especially while you鈥檙e still
around to hear it.鈥�
### 含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所 Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers
(AMCs) in The State University of New York (含羞草研究所) 64-campus system and the only 含羞草研究所
AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for
the borough鈥檚 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at
Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate鈥檚
exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With
a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate
offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community. UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis
for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond
its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions,
including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions,
School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation
through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and
BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.