Dr. Edwin Bogonko, a former Kenya Medical Association secretary was last night installed as president of the 5,000 member Twin Cities Medical Society, the largest component society of the Minnesota Medical Association which represents most Minnesota physicians. The 10,000 member statewide MMA has 31 such component societies around the state with TCMS, which represents most metro area doctors, being the largest with its 5,000 members.
Dr. Bogonko is a clinical director of medicine and lead physician at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in the Twin Cities suburb of Shakopee, Minnesota. He received his medical degree from the University of Nairobi and worked as an ICU physician before moving to the United States in 1999. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
The Twin Cities Medical Society came into being in 2010 following the merger of the East Metro Medical Society and the West Metro Medical Society resulted. The society works in engaging its members who consist of doctors, medical students, medical residents and fellows in improving clinical practice, policy development and public health initiatives.
Bogonko was installed at the society’s annual dinner in Saint Paul which was keynoted by the state’s Commissioner of Human Services, Lucinda Jesson. The commissioner’s address centered on the upcoming Obama administration health care reforms and the progress Minnesota has made in preparing for the law and its impact.
Speaking at the annual dinner, Bogonko said he was greatly humbled to accept the responsibility of serving as president for 2013. He told a rapt audience that since becoming active with the society “it has been a ride full of valuable lessons yet very fulfilling in seeing that our beloved society has achieved so much,” he said. Some of the milestones he highlighted included the society’s work with counties to create a “smoke-free” Minnesota and the society’s work with communities, businesses and schools as part of the Twin Cities Obesity Prevention Coalition.
In addition to his high level work with Minnesota’s medical community, Bogonko has been active in helping immigrant physicians, especially African ones, in obtaining board certification in Minnesota to continue their medical careers here. He told Mshale it is a passion of his that he plans to continue with “as it brings me a great deal of satisfaction,” he said.
Joining Dr. Bogonko on the board in 2013 is Dr. Lisa Mattson as president-elect, Dr. Peter Dehnel who is the outgoing president, Dr. Ken Kephart as treasurer, Dr. Carolyn McClain as secretary, Doctors Matthew Hunt and Nicholas Meyer as At-Large members.
With his ascension to the presidency of the Twin Cities Medical Society, Bogonko joins the very small elite group of minority professionals that lead mainstream professional and trade associations in the state of Minnesota.
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About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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