The illustrious life of Ludlow B. Creary, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.F.P., embodies his book's title, Getting Through: Uplifting Words on Overcoming, Persevering and Achieving. Extraordinary examples include his overcoming being an immigrant from Jamaica during Jim Crow to persevering through medical school to achieving pinnacles in the medical profession, such as: co-founding the historic West Adams Hospital In Los Angeles; involved in the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital/Drew Medical Center, where he also taught. He was involved in medicine's General Practice field transition to the Specialty Board in Family Medicine. Dr. Creary was a professor in MLK/Drew's Department of Family Medicine and its Founding Chair—preceding and succeeding Dr. David Satcher, the 16th U.S. Surgeon General. During his tenure, Dr. Creary oversaw the department's first accreditation, and the training hundreds of physician assistants, as well as thousands of medical students and residents, many of whom he mentored, along with younger physicians.
It is Dr. Creary's professional background and life experience that makes his writing Getting Through so invaluable. Dr. Creary has also long been considered a medical icon, bolstered by his many awards over the decades, such as: the National Medical Association's Practitioner of the Year; the Organization of Caribbean American People's Family Medicine & Community Betterment Award; The Physician's Award as Active Teachers in Family Medicine from The American Academy of Family Physicians; the Department of Family Medicine, MLK Jr. General Hospital's Appreciation Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service; California Blue Shield Board of Directors' Outstanding Service Award; Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School's Departmental Award of the Year; The Outstanding Leadership Award as President of Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (under his leadership, the Medical Center received the coveted JCAHO Accreditation); a commendation from L.A. County Supervisor, Yvonne Braithwaite Burke; and The Minority Health Institute's Distinguished Physician Award.
In addition, Dr. Creary has received PBS/KCET Television's Local Heroes Award; the Special Needs Network's Lifetime Achievement Award; and The Leading Physicians of the World Award. Further, solidifying his iconic status in the medical field, Dr. Creary also received the National Medical Association's Distinguished Service Award; the National Medical Fellowship, Inc.'s Legacy Award; and was inducted into the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health's Alumni Hall of Fame in the Dr. Lester Breslow Lifetime Achievement category.
In 2020, he received a BOSS (Business of Student Success) Award, along with fellow honorees and Super Bowl winners, Willie Gault and Richard Sherman, as well as received the Chairman's Award from the UCLA Black Alumni Association, other honorees included 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Steven Lewis.
Dr. Creary has also been honored by the California State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1971 the California State Senate's Resolution 176 honored Dr. Creary as one of the West Adams Community Hospital co-founders. While in 2020, U.S. Representative Karen Bass (now the first female mayor of Los Angeles) presented Dr. Creary with a Congressional Proclamation lauding his extraordinary professional and philanthropic accomplishments, which was read into the Congressional Record of the 116th Congress, 2nd Session.
Dr. Creary is also honored that in recognition of his dedication to healthcare, he was the 2022 recipient of the Matthew Robinson Jr. Award, presented by the acclaimed Parkinson's advocacy nonprofit, HollyRod Foundation, established by Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete in memory of Holly's father, Matthew, who had Parkinson's, like Dr. Creary.
Dr. Creary obtained his B.S. in chemistry from Long Island University, his M.D. from the renowned HBCU, Howard University's College of Medicine, and his Master of Public Health degree from the internationally revered UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
A committed and long-time philanthropist, who's given and helped raise millions for charitable causes, Dr. Creary is Co-Founder/Chairman of the Drs. Ludlow and Ruth Creary Family Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofits and scholarships to deserving students pursuing degrees in healthcare.
Known for giving poignant advice and astute wisdom to colleagues, students and friends, Getting Through is Dr. Creary's first book. As he preps for his next book—a memoir—he continues to enjoy time with his wife Ruth, his children and grandchildren, as well as extended family and friends.