J.W. Vines Medical Society and Foundation Continues Mission to Diversify Inland Empire’s Healthcare Field

“By providing mentorship, funding, and hands-on opportunities, we are actively working to create a more diverse and equitable healthcare landscape for the Inland Empire,” said J.W. Vines Medical Society President Dr. Leita Harris

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The J.W. Vines Medical Society and its philanthropic arm, the J.W. Vines Foundation, are reaffirming their long-standing commitment to increasing the number of African American health professionals in the Inland Empire and addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.

Under the leadership of President Dr. Leita Harris and Foundation Chairman Dr. A.J. Rogers, the organizations continue to expand mentorship and educational programs for students from college to medical school. The society, a component of the National Medical Association, represents African American physicians across the Inland Empire and High Desert.

“Our goal is to build a robust pipeline for the next generation of healthcare leaders who will serve our local communities,” said Harris. “By providing mentorship, funding, and hands-on opportunities, we are actively working to create a more diverse and equitable healthcare landscape for the Inland Empire.”

Founded in 1987, the J.W. Vines Medical Society (a 501(c)(6) nonprofit) has been a cornerstone for African American physicians in the region for over three decades. Its philanthropic arm, the J.W. Vines Foundation, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), was established in 2001 to support this mission by funding key initiatives.

The organizations’ programs include the Elma Vines Summer Health Academy, a medical mission to Haiti, and direct support for student groups such as the Pan-African STEM Society (PASS) at California State University, San Bernardino, and African Americans United in Science (AAUS) at the University of California, Riverside.

The society’s leadership has a rich history, beginning with its first president, Dr. Benjamin G. Vines. The legacy has been carried forward by a line of dedicated leaders, including Dr. Ernest Levister, who served as president from 1994 to 2000 and is a past chairman, and Dr. Ancel J. Rogers, who now serves as the foundation chairman.

The current leadership team also includes Dr. Michael Nduati as a board member and Kamie Taylor as Executive Administrator.

“Through the dedicated work of our member physicians, we provide critical mentoring, physician shadowing, and support to students aspiring to enter the health professions,” said Rogers. “Our vision is to be a leading force in advocating for diversity through innovative approaches to education, recruitment, and retention.”

The society and foundation also advocate on critical issues such as equal opportunity in education and improving the quality of patient care throughout the Inland Empire.

For more information, go to: https://vinesmedical.org

To donate go to: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=P3HMGAAHT47UN 

About the J.W. Vines Medical Society and Foundation: The James Wesley Vines Medical Society Inc. is a 501(c)(6) organization representing African American physicians in California’s Inland Empire and is a component of the National Medical Association. The J.W. Vines Foundation Inc. is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the society. Together, their mission is to remedy healthcare disparities by increasing the number of African American health professionals serving communities of color and to increase the diversity of healthcare professionals in the Inland Empire.