Rev. Dr. Gertie L. Hurley and Love AME Church Recognized for Health Education in the Community
The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) recently honored the Rev. Dr. Gertie L. Hurley, the Health Ministry Director of Love African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Largo, Maryland, by awarding her the “Dr. Walter M. Booker, Sr. Health Promotion Award” for her work educating the African American community in the Washington, District of Columbia metropolitan area through Taking Effective Action, Inc. (TEA), the non-profit organization she founded.
Over the past year, Dr. Hurley, and Rev. Krishnan Natesan, Senior Pastor of Love AME Church, led the efforts of community partners in administering an African American COVID-19 Virtual Education Series. The education project reached over 300 residents by training community health leaders through virtual education on COVID-19, prevention guidelines, vaccination information, and other resources. Love AME Church led the way with partners in helping TEA distribute over 40,000 facemasks and COVID-19 information cards to the community.
Dr. Hurley and her team designed an education program emphasizing healthy eating and cardiovascular health. The program included disseminating information cards with resources from ABC and other authoritative sources that allowed residents to access health information online during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the program provided training and toolkits to community health leaders to enable them to continue providing health education to the community. The program will also support the leaders and community partners in sharing health information.
“Dr. Hurley is indeed a phenomenal woman of God. Her passion for improving the health of those locally, regionally, nationally, and globally is amazing,” said Pastor Natesan. “She fully carries the torch of educating our churches and communities everywhere about knowing their health status and what impacts it. Her health symposiums and consistent participation in the NBC-TV4 health fairs and other health venues have catapulted her work across the globe. She is a walking and talking demonstration of living a healthy lifestyle. Love AME Church is immensely proud of her and the work she has done to receive this prestigious award.”
The Rev. Dr. Gregory V. Eason, Sr., Senior Pastor of Flipper Temple AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia, said he was honored to be invited to attend the Association of Black Cardiologists Annual Gala. “When I heard of the award being given to the Rev. Dr. Gertie Hurley, I was proud to be a part of the AME Church,” said Eason. “Dr. Hurley is carrying out the spirit and mission of the Free African Society out of which the AME Church evolved. Her work with TEA, in partnership with Love AME Church, is worthy of honor,” Rev. Eason continued.
The Association of Black Cardiologists presented Dr. Hurley with her award during its 13th Annual Awards Gala and Fundraiser in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead on October 15, 2022. Each year, ABC honors the work of outstanding health leaders with their health promotion award. This year, the gala’s theme was “Health Equity in Motion 22,” which describes Dr. Hurley’s work that she often carries out with the help of local AME churches and other denominations. [View tribute video from
the gala]
“Dr. Hurley’s service in the National Capital Region is immeasurable, said Chief Executive Officer Ms. Cassandra McCullough of ABC. “She continues to exemplify outstanding leadership in health promotion and is a valued resource to faith-based, community, and public health organizations. Throughout the pandemic, she has maintained her usual high-level engagement in support of the health and well-being of communities of color. I am proud to congratulate Dr. Hurley on this well-deserved recognition,” McCullough added.
Love AME Church is in the Second Episcopal District, the Washington Conference, where Bishop James L. Davis is the Presiding Prelate, Mrs. Arelis Beevers Davis is the Episcopal Supervisor, and the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Braxton is the Presiding Elder. A third-generation AME, Dr. Hurley is the oldest daughter of Presiding Elder Kenneth White (deceased) and the Rev. Pauline L. White Thurston (deceased). She is the oldest sister of the late Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White, former pastor of Campbell AME Church, Washington, District of Columbia.
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About Taking Effective Action, Inc.
Taking Effective Action, Inc. (TEA)© is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to advancing, supporting, and promoting the health of families, women, men, and youth in the greater Washington, District of Columbia and Maryland areas and beyond. Through its outreach programs and publications, TEA has significantly impacted people’slives by inspiring and encouraging them to “Take Effective Action” for their health. To learn more, visit www.t-action.org.
