Now retired, Jamel Y. Patterson, MD, leveraged her professional experience to provide vital emergency medical care to patients. Dr. Patterson – who holds a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of Science, and a Master of Public Health – worked as an emergency medicine physician with Columbia University and the Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY). In this capacity, she helped to stabilize her patients’ conditions and facilitate their transition to other points of care, including intensive care units, general inpatient beds, and other hospitals. Dr. Patterson’s passion is driven by her sincere desire to assist others, and she firmly believes that her medical expertise is a means to enhance the well-being and quality of life for others. Inspired by her deep compassion and faith in God, she credits her family for instilling the value of assisting those in need and fostering a spirit of generosity. Despite coming from modest means, Dr. Patterson’s family always shared what little they had with others.
With more than 20 years of experience as a medical professional, Dr. Patterson was an attending physician with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, alongside her work with Columbia University and PAGNY. During her retirement, she has continued to give back to others as the founder and president of the Ageno Foundation International Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works to expand access to clean water in African nations, including the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. Dr. Patterson is proud of the Ageno Foundation’s substantial impact on communities across Eastern Africa and the Caribbean, where the organization has provided access to clean water for more than 50,000 people and facilitated educational opportunities. The word “Ageno” means “I have faith” in the Southern Luo language, a dialect spoken across Uganda and its neighboring countries. In the future, Dr. Patterson envisions expanding the reach of the Ageno Foundation on a global scale. She hopes to assist people in many countries, including India and Romania.
While preparing for her medical career, Dr. Patterson completed a residency in internal medicine at Harlem Hospital and an additional residency in emergency medicine at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. In 1977, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, after which she graduated from Long Island University with a Master of Science in cell biology in 1984. Committed to her higher education, Dr. Patterson graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine in 1988, after which she secured a Master of Public Health from Columbia University in 2001. For her excellence as a medical professional, she received a Recognition Award for Teaching Excellence in 1988. Dr. Patterson has also been recognized through the Ageno Foundation, which received an award from a Haitian community to commemorate the organization’s exceptional contributions. In the coming years, she plans to continue collaborating with like-minded individuals to address the diverse needs of her local area and communities around the world.