I was born in Andrews, South Carolina to parents who never attended school and grew up in Whiteville, North Carolina. I came to Hawaii by way of the Army. Serving as a military physician and chief of rheumatology at Tripler Army Medical Center for 15 years was a wonderful experience.I was the eighth child from a large family of five brothers and six sisters. I was the first in my family tree to finish high school, and I worked in the cotton and tobacco fields of the South until I left for college. Watching my parents work hard in the fields to provide for 11 children was a source of inspiration for me. Their work ethic has had a major impact on my work ethic in medicine.  The medical care of African-Americans in the South was very poor when I was growing up. I wanted to give of myself and my time to effect a positive change in all people, and not just African-Americans. I have done that by giving back to the community through participating in health fairs and partnering with community organizations to provide health education.