Lemuel Arnold, MD , Institutional Advancement Portfolio

Background:

I was born in Houston, Texas at the hospital in which I would eventually do my Residency in Pediatrics. After a move, I graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches, Texas and went on to M.I.T. where I majored in Biology and minored in peace activism beginning with the strike of 1972. I attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where I also did my residency in Pediatrics. I have been in practice in Atlanta since 1980 and with Kaiser Permanente since 1988, where I lead the effort to create our "Provider's Handbook on Culturally Competent Care: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Population" in 1999 on which I continue to lecture. I continue as a strong advocate for LGBT rights and provision of quality healthcare to my community. My partner and I also have a small farm/large garden/orchard in Walker County, Georgia that keeps me busy on my weekends and days off.

What attracted you to The Mountain?

My first experience with The Mountain was my first GSV event - the 1995 Fall Conference. I was blown away by the conference as well as the majesty and the beauty of The Mountain. After every visit to The Mountain, I find my spirit lifted and my core energy renewed.

What would you like to accomplish in your Board role?

I would like to help The Mountain through this transition period, so that at the end of my tenure, it will be stronger and ready for future challenges and ways to expand its contribution to focus on diversity, sustainability and peace.

About your family:

My partner of 15 years is David "Pat" Boyle, PhD., retired Dean and Professor of Social Work at Dalton State College who introduced me to GSV and The Mountain. He is struggling to find his niche in retirement, especially in a way to carry on his interest in the international aspects of social work as well as work on our farm.

What do you find most important in life?

I find that the people around me, socially, professionally and my general community as well as the world around us, inspire me to contribute my best efforts to my and their goodwill and all our ability to succeed. Love, kindness and generousity to all are the core values that keep me going.

Anything else you would like us to know?

I am also an avid photographer and have taken thousands of pictures at The Mountain over the years and still find that looking back at those photographs that I am awed by its beauty.