By Warner M. MontgomeryWarner@TheColumbiaStar.com

Dr. Albert Reid Photo courtesy of the Columbia Medical Society

Albert Reid, MD, of Columbia was honored with the President's Award by the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) at their annual meeting in April 2006. In presenting the award, Dr. Gerald A. Wilson, president of SCMA, said, "Dr. Albert Reid is an exemplary representative of the ethical medical professional...A surgeon is an educator and a craftsman...This is Dr. Albert Reid."

Dr. Reid was born and raised in Salisbury, NC, where he excelled in school academically and athletically. He graduated from Benedict College in 1953 where he was an academic scholar and lettered in football. In 1990, he was inducted into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame.

His first job was as a teacher and coach at Booker T. Washington High School. After a few successful years in the classroom and on the football field Coach Reid decided to become Dr. Reid. He graduated from Meharry College in Nashville, Tenn. with his MD degree and did his surgery residency at the University of Minnesota.

Eager to establish a practice in his adopted hometown, Dr. Reid joined Dr. C.O. Spann in Columbia. He eventually opened his own practice in the Greenview area of Columbia where he still resides and sees patients.

Dr. Reid joined the clinical staff at Richland Memorial Hospital and the Benedict College Health Center. He has always been dedicated to teaching medicine to young physicians just entering the profession. He served on the Columbia Medical Society Executive Committee and on various committees of the SCMA.

In addition to his medical activities, Dr. Reid has always been involved with his community. He served as president of his neighborhood organization and mobilized the community on issues that would impact their lives. He led bringing suit against the planned Richland-Baptist Hospital merger to assure that taxpayers would not be harmed. Dr. Reid received the Columbia Urban League's Community Service Award.

His relationship with Benedict College has continued uninterrupted for over 50 years. In 1988-1990, he served as president of the Benedict National Alumni Association and as a member of the Benedict College Board of Directors.

Dr. Reid and his wife have devoted their lives to the education and success of their children. Their son, Dr. Rodney Reid, is a rheumatologist on the staff of the Dorn VA Medical Center. Their daughter, Dr. Yolanda Reid Hunter, is a practicing dentist.

Information provided by the Columbia Medical Society