Our public health community lost a stalwart champion. Dr. Muriel Petioni passed away on December 6, 2011 at the age of 97. Dr. Petioni, known as the "mother of medicine in Harlem," had a long and distinguished career in private practice and school health. Although diminutive in size, her stature as an advocate was immense.

She created the Friends of Harlem Hospital that helped raise substantial funds for an important community resource, particularly with respect to senior services. Dr. Petioni served on the boards of many community organizations including: Mentoring in Medicine, Friends of Harlem Hospital, The Harlem Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, the Columbia School of Social Work, the American Cancer Society, the Harlem Council of Elders, and the Handmaids of Mary.

Within the Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. "P" had been a core member of the Harlem Health Promotion Center's Community Advisory Board (CAB) since 1991 and worked diligently on its Dissemination Committee. Using her extensive community connections, she was instrumental in helping HHPC implement a variety of community health promotion initiatives. We all marveled at her seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, and have been blessed to learn from and work with her over the years.

Dr. Petioni was a pioneer in the realm of disease prevention, making her association with HHPC−one of a national network of 37 Prevention Research Centers funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)−that much more relevant. She began preaching against the toll of sugar and junk food more than fifty years ago when she first hung her shingle on 114 West 131st Street at the family home where she grew up. Per her obituary in the New York Times, “Her dietary warning−“you’re digging your grave with your fork”−became a trademark, as did the motherly finger-point that usually accompanied it.” She tirelessly served the Harlem community as a family physician who provided a holistic approach to healthcare until her retirement in the late 1990s. As her family states, “She helped teach people how to care about themselves, about each other, and their community.”

Dr. Petioni was the daughter of Dr. Charles Augustin Petioni, one of Harlem’s first black physicians and Marcus Garvey’s personal physician. Both father and daughter graduated from Howard University Medical School, Muriel in 1937. At the time of her passing she was the only female and last known survivor from her class. In addition to maintaining a private practice, she also worked for thirty years as a school physician for the city’s health department and spent much of her time founding and leading community organizations to promote health care, housing development and education in Harlem. She often shared her secret to a long and fruitful life, “Go with the flow, and ride with the tide.”

To view Dr. Petioni's "History Makers" profile go here: http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=119

Condolence notes may be sent to:
Family of Dr. Muriel Petioni
100 La Salle Street #5-H
New York NY 10027