Pedro José Greer
Encyclopedia
Dr. Pedro José Greer, Jr. (born June 15, 1956 in Miami, Florida
) is an American physician. He is Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society at the Florida International University School of Medicine. He is founder of the Camillus Health Concern, a Catholic
charity sponsored by the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
, which delivers health services to thousands of homeless people in Miami-Dade County, and the St. John Bosco Clinic, which serves disadvantaged people in Little Havana. He was awarded a MacArthur "genius grant"
in 1993 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 2009. He has been a board member of the American
charity for the homeless
, Comic Relief
.
, Greer graduated from the Christopher Columbus High School then from the University of Florida
with a BS in chemistry in 1978 and earned his MD in 1984 from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
. He specialized in gastroenterology
and hepatology
during his residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital
. His 1999 autobiography is Waking Up in America: How One Doctor Brings Hope to Those Who Need It Most. He has a joint practice with his father, Dr. Pedro Greer, Sr.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) is an American physician. He is Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society at the Florida International University School of Medicine. He is founder of the Camillus Health Concern, a Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
charity sponsored by the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, a Roman Catholic order of Brothers, was founded in 1951 in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Brother Mathias Barrett at the behest of Edwin V. Byrne....
, which delivers health services to thousands of homeless people in Miami-Dade County, and the St. John Bosco Clinic, which serves disadvantaged people in Little Havana. He was awarded a MacArthur "genius grant"
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
in 1993 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
in 2009. He has been a board member of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
charity for the homeless
Homelessness in the United States
Homelessness in the United States has continued to remain a focus area of concern of social service providers, government officials, and policy professionals since its resurgence among many types of individuals and families. The number of homeless people further grew in the 1980s, as housing and...
, Comic Relief
Comic Relief USA
Comic Relief, Inc. is a non-profit charity organization whose mission is to raise funds to help those in need—particularly America's homeless. It has raised and distributed nearly US$50 million toward providing assistance—including health care services—to homeless people throughout the United States...
.
Early life and career
Born to parents who emigrated from CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Greer graduated from the Christopher Columbus High School then from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
with a BS in chemistry in 1978 and earned his MD in 1984 from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
The Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra —or Mother and Teacher Pontifical Catholic University is the first private, Roman Catholic, coeducational, university located in the Dominican Republic. The university grants undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees through...
. He specialized in gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
and hepatology
Hepatology
Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas as well as management of their disorders. Etymologically the word Hepatology is formed of ancient Greek hepar or hepato- meaning ' liver' and suffix -logia meaning 'word' or 'speech'...
during his residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jackson Memorial Hospital is a non-profit, tertiary care teaching hospital and the major teaching hospital of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida...
. His 1999 autobiography is Waking Up in America: How One Doctor Brings Hope to Those Who Need It Most. He has a joint practice with his father, Dr. Pedro Greer, Sr.