GLORIA E. WHITE-HAMMOND, M.D. - Minister and Pediatrician

Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D. is Co-Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston, MA, along with her husband, Rev. Ray A. Hammond, M.D., and is a pediatrician at the South End Community Health Center. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Boston University, a Doctorate of Medicine from Tufts Medical School and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.

Rev. White-Hammond has a long history of involvement with youth and community activities. She is the founder and advisory chair of the church-based creative writing/mentoring ministry called “Do The Write Thing” for high-risk black adolescent females. The project, which began in 1994 with four girls, now serves some sixty young women through small groups at two Boston public schools, at a juvenile detention facility in Boston and on site at Bethel AME Church. Gloria is past co-chair of the Faith in Action Committee of The United Way of Massachusetts Bay. Since 1997, this committee has contributed $2.5 million dollars to faith-based initiatives that address the needs of high-risk children and youth. She currently serves on the Women’s Health Leadership Forum of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Board of Visitors for the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union, as well as the Boards of the American Anti-Slavery Group and Christian Solidarity International.

Dr. White-Hammond’s work as a humanitarian has achieved global impact. She has worked as a medical missionary in several African countries including South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire and Botswana. Most recently, she has traveled to southern Sudan where she has been involved in obtaining the freedom of 10,000 women and children who were enslaved during the two-decade long civil war. She is also the convener of My Sister’s Keeper, a project organized by American women to support women of Southern Sudan in their efforts toward reconciliation and reconstruction of their communities.

Rev. White-Hammond’s most recent awards during 2003 include the Humanitarian Award for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, the Lee P. Jackson Award of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and the Leading Women Award of the Patriots Council of the Girl Scouts of America.