Nelson L. Adams III, M.D. (B.S. ’74), has spent his career pioneering change in the field of medicine. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Adams has dedicated his life to improving maternal and child health, founding the Maternal Child Health Initiative in South Florida to address healthcare disparities.

In recognition of his trailblazing contributions, Adams has been chosen by Howard University to receive the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement. He will be recognized at the Charter Day 2025 Dinner on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

A 1974 graduate of Howard University with a degree in zoology, Adams has made significant contributions to academia and public service. He has held trustee positions at Barry University and Meharry Medical College, where he earned his medical degree.

His work in Maternal Child Health in Miami-Dade County stands among his most impactful accomplishments, beginning in the 1990s.

“In South Florida, many pregnant patients were unable to find providers who would accept them, particularly with Medicaid being the primary mode of payment,” Adams said.

“It’s one thing to have an insurance card. It’s another thing to have access to services that truly help you achieve good health.”

He added: “It’s one thing to have an insurance card. It’s another thing to have access to services that truly help you achieve good health.”

Given the challenge, the practice he led often struggled to secure appropriate hospital care for Medicaid recipients. In response, he launched the Maternal Child Health Initiative, a clinic aimed at ensuring expectant mothers received high-quality care.

“We started a clinic with folk who understood the importance of everybody receiving good healthcare, high-quality healthcare,” he said. “As was the case across the country, we found that there were many communities without access to care.”

Though the initiative no longer exists due to external influences, its impact endures. Many of the children born through the clinic are now thriving adults, and former patients still express their gratitude for the care they received.

“Even to this day, I occasionally have patients who were part of that program come to me and thank me for the experience they had and show off pictures of their babies—who are now full-grown folk,” he said.

Beyond his clinical work, Adams has been an outspoken advocate for eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. He has also held key leadership positions at North Shore Medical Center and Jackson North Medical Center in Miami. He acknowledges that despite advancements, racial inequities in healthcare remain deeply rooted.

“The health burdens of slaves still burden Black folk today,” Adams said. “The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. But healthcare must be available, affordable, and accessible.”