Tom Barrett, chief medical officer of Howard Brown Health Center Honored

Tom Barrett, chief medical officer of Howard Brown Health Center Honored
Copyright by Gay Chicago Magazine
November 14, 2006

CHICAGO - Tom Barrett, chief medical officer of Howard Brown Health Center, has been selected as the GayHealth. com/Gay and Lesbian Medical Association “Provider of the Year” for 2006.

The fourth annual award was presented to Barrett by Dr. Stephen Goldstone, FACS, medical director of GayHealth. com, at the recent 24th annual Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) Conference in San Francisco.

Physicians are evaluated based on their innovative contributions and overall dedication to LGBT health, and by nomination essays submitted by their patients. One of Barrett’s patients, who’s faced HIV, homelessness and other serious health challenges, wrote of Barrett, “Many people including myself would not be living, or living with a good quality of life, without his efforts.”

“I’m so touched that a patient would take the time to write a nomination letter about me,” said Barrett, who left private practice in 2000 to join Howard Brown, where he specializes in family practice and HIV. “My patients have always been just amazing about giving all kinds of feedback and being interactive in their health care.

“For me, this work isn’t about changing the whole world,” says Barrett. “I’ve always worked under the belief that if I can make a difference in one person’s life, maybe that person could be the one to someday change the world.”

For more information, visit www.howardbrown.org.