Diversity among physicians, including neurologists is important for delivering optimal healthcare. Research suggests that increasing minority representation among healthcare providers can lead to better outcomes for minority patients, through factors like increased cultural competency (the ability to understand and interact with people of various cultural backgrounds), which is critical for decreasing disparities and improving health outcomes.

The Joi Life Foundation believes in empowering the next generation of neurologists and neuroscientists. We offer scholarship support for residency applications and other related expenses to students from underrepresented groups.

Dr. Patrick A. Griffith, son of Duncan and Edith Griffith, began his education at Comenius Moravian Primary School in Georgetown, British Guiana, and later attended Queens College on a government scholarship. He earned his B.Sc. from McGill University in 1967 and his medical degree from Howard University in 1971, where he was later inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Griffith completed his neurology residency at Harvard's Longwood Program and served as a neurologist at Offutt Air Force Base.

He later joined Emory University as Assistant Professor and Deputy Chief of Neurology at Grady Memorial Hospital, spent over 30 years as Chief of Neurology at Morehouse School of Medicine, held academic roles at Meharry Medical College, SABA University, and Texas Southwestern, and served as a consultant in Ethiopia.

To donate to this scholarship, please use the link below and in the notes section indicate that your gift is for The Dr. Patrick A. Griffith Clinical Neurology Scholarship.

Joi Life Foundation will host our annual fundraising gala, providing food, fun, and networking with the mission to raise money to help fund our programs and initiatives.

These roundtables aim to equip patients, care partners, and health care providers with practical tools to improve shared decision-making, align goals for better patient outcomes, and emphasize culturally competent care to promote health equity.