H*4545 Concurrent Resolution, By Hewitt, Anderson, Crawford, Clemmons, McGinnis, 
Fry and Hardee
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR GERALD E. HARMON, M.D., OF
 GEORGETOWN COUNTY UPON BEING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE
 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

   01/09/18  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 85)
   01/10/18  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 6)

TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR GERALD E. HARMON, M.D., OF GEORGETOWN COUNTY UPON BEING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., of Georgetown County took office as chairman of the board of trustees for the American Medical Association (AMA) on June 14, 2017; and

Whereas, in preparation for his life's work, Dr. Harmon earned a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from the University of South Carolina and has since been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed a residency training program in family medicine with the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida; and

Whereas, having practiced for more than thirty years in coastal South Carolina, this family medicine specialist was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in June 2013. Prior to his election, Dr. Harmon served the organization as a member of the AMA Council for Medical Service, as well as in the AMA House of Delegates for eighteen years; and

Whereas, in his home State, Dr. Harmon has held several leadership positions in the South Carolina Medical Association, including chairman of the board and president. He serves as a clinical professor at two of South Carolina's medical schools, a commitment that has been well recognized as he has been named Community Educator of the Year by both the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium; and

Whereas, deeply committed to his community, Dr. Harmon serves as an advisor to the board of trustees for his community health system and is vice president of a multispecialty physician practice. He is a medical director for several organizations, including a nonprofit hospice, and for the county's largest home health service agency. He volunteers also as medical supervisor for his local school district's twenty-three schools and has received the lifetime achievement award from his county's chamber of commerce. At the state level, he recently completed a term as secretary for the State Aeronautics Commission. He is also a participant in the Doctor of the Day program at the South Carolina State House; and

Whereas, before his retirement from the military as a major general, Dr. Harmon served the nation in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, holding responsibilities as chief surgeon for the National Guard Bureau and assistant surgeon general for the U.S. Air Force. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal; and

Whereas, during the rare times when he is not actively practicing medicine, Dr. Harmon and his wife, Linda, enjoy spending time outdoors in their coastal hometown of Georgetown with their three married children and seven grandchildren; and

Whereas, the General Assembly appreciates the outstanding medical service Dr. Gerald Harmon has rendered to the citizens of our State, and the members take great pleasure in saluting him on his installation as board chair for the AMA. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate and honor Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., of Georgetown County upon being named chairman of the board of trustees for the American Medical Association.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Gerald Harmon.