June Jackson Christmas

Dr June Jackson Christmas is a psychiatrist, a former New York City Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services,^[1] member of President Jimmy Carter transition team,^[2] the beneficiary of Human-Services Award,^[3] the founder of a community psychiatric program in Harlem - Harlem Rehabilitation Center.^[4][5] Dr. Christmas served as a member of Governor Mario Cuomo's Advisory Committee on Black Affairs.
Dr. Christmas has served as vice-president of the American Psychiatric Association and the president of the Public Health Association of NYC.^[6] In 1999, Dr. Christmas received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Medical Fellowships. She also was a member of Vassar's Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1989.^[7] She is a former executive director of the Urban Issues Group, an organization with focus on issues specific to New Yorkers of African descent.^[8] Dr. Christmas was mentioned in New York Times in 45 different articles^[9]

Career

Dr. June Jackson Christmas was born in Cambridge Massachusetts. She graduated from Vassar College and Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Christmas left private practice to set up Harlem Hospital Rehabilitation Center and to teach at Columbia University. Her achievements with the Rehabilitation Center were later honored with awards:

• in 1974 with Human Services Award^[10]
• in 1976 with Award for Excellence in the Field of Domestic Health of the American Public Health Association^[11]

Dr. Christmas was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services on August 16, 1972 by Mayor of New York City John Lindsay.^[12]
In 1976 Dr. Christmas was part of the Jimmy Carter campaign as a health advisor, and subsequently as part the Carter transition team, led the transition of the largest federal agency - Department of Health, education and Welfare - from Republican to Democratic hands.^[13]
In 1978 Mayor Ed Koch reappointed Dr. June Jackson Christmas as the city's Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation.^[14]

References

1. New York Times:Beame Names 2 Women And Lazar to High Posts; Outstanding Public Servants' Active in Community Work
2. New York Times:NEW YORK AIDE HEADS CARTER'S H.E.W. TEAM; June Jackson Christmas Planning the Transfer of Control at Huge Federal Department
3. New York Times:Future Social Events; Meet the Mets and Reds
4. New York Times: Overtaken by a School
5. Vassar College:Each One Teach One
6. New York Times:Health Care in U.S. Is Called Inadequate
7. Vassar college: Dr. June Jackson Christmas to speak at Vassar, February 6
9. New York Times coverage of Dr June Jackson Christmas
10. New York Times:Future Social Events; Meet the Mets and Reds
11. American Public Health Association Award Recipients
12. New York Times:CITY MENTAL CHIEF A BLACK WOMAN; Lindsay Appoints Her Head of $160-Million Agency
13. New York Times: NEW YORK AIDE HEADS CARTER'S H.E.W. TEAM; June Jackson Christmas Planning the Transfer of Control at Huge Federal Department
14. NEw York Times:Dr. Christmas Wins A New Appointment To City Health Post; Brooklyn College Graduate