Michael Shadid
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael Abraham Shadid (1882-August 13, 1966) was a Lebanese
physician who founded the first medical cooperative
in Elk City, Oklahoma
in 1931. He was the first president of the Cooperative Health Federation of America and an advocate for cooperative health care and preventive medicine.
, Lebanon
, the youngest of 12 children. He attended the American University's
high school in Beirut and in 1898 immigrated to the United States where he was a pack peddler and sold cheap jewelry and buttons door to door. Shadid attended John Tarleton College
in Stephenville, Texas
in 1902 and received a degree in medicine from Washington University in St. Louis
in 1907. While in medical school, Shadid joined the Socialist Party of America
. He ran for Congress as a New Deal democrat
but was defeated by Sam Massingale. He married Adeeba Shadid and they had six children: Bess, Fred, Ethel, Alexander, Ruth, and Helen.
and settled in Elk City. He found that farmers of the region were not receiving adequate medical care and did not have a hospital they could afford. Shadid called a meeting of his farmer patients and proposed a cooperatively owned clinic and hospital in Elk City. The Oklahoma Farmers' Union supported the measure and the hospital was opened by the Community Health Association, Inc. in August 1931. The reception from the medical community was icy. Although he had been a member of the Beckman County Medical Society for over 20 years, the society expelled him. The Oklahoma Board of Medical Examiners attempted to revoke Shadid's license and the State Medical Association tried to get a bill passed against medical cooperatives in the Oklahoma Legislature. The bill was defeated with the help of the Oklahoma Farmers' Union. The Farmers' Union took control of the hospital and the health plan in 1934. By 1939, Community Hospital served 15,000 farmers in the southwestern Oklahoma. During the later years of his life, Dr. Shadid suffered from diabetes, resulting in having both legs amputated.
and assisted the organizing committee that led to the formation of Group Health Cooperative
. Shadid helped found the Cooperative Health Federation of America in 1947. He served as the Foundation's president from 1947 to 1949. In 1960 he built Hospital Haramoon in the Lebanese village where he was born. Shadid died in Kansas on August 13, 1966 and is buried in Oklahoma City at Fairlawn Cemetery. He was inducted into the Cooperative Development Foundation
's Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1978.
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
physician who founded the first medical cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
in Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City is a city in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 11,693 at the 2010 census. Elk City is located on Interstate 40 and Historic U.S. Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, approximately west of Oklahoma City and east of Amarillo....
in 1931. He was the first president of the Cooperative Health Federation of America and an advocate for cooperative health care and preventive medicine.
Early life
Shadid was born in 1882 in MarjayounMarjayoun
Marjayoun is a Lebanese town and administrative district, Marjeyoun District, in the Nabatieh Governorate in Southern Lebanon...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, the youngest of 12 children. He attended the American University's
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
high school in Beirut and in 1898 immigrated to the United States where he was a pack peddler and sold cheap jewelry and buttons door to door. Shadid attended John Tarleton College
Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
in Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
in 1902 and received a degree in medicine from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in 1907. While in medical school, Shadid joined the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
. He ran for Congress as a New Deal democrat
New Deal coalition
The New Deal Coalition was the alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the New Deal and voted for Democratic presidential candidates from 1932 until the late 1960s. It made the Democratic Party the majority party during that period, losing only to Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952...
but was defeated by Sam Massingale. He married Adeeba Shadid and they had six children: Bess, Fred, Ethel, Alexander, Ruth, and Helen.
Career
In 1923, Shadid left a successful practice in Carter, OklahomaCarter, Oklahoma
Carter is a town in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carter is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
and settled in Elk City. He found that farmers of the region were not receiving adequate medical care and did not have a hospital they could afford. Shadid called a meeting of his farmer patients and proposed a cooperatively owned clinic and hospital in Elk City. The Oklahoma Farmers' Union supported the measure and the hospital was opened by the Community Health Association, Inc. in August 1931. The reception from the medical community was icy. Although he had been a member of the Beckman County Medical Society for over 20 years, the society expelled him. The Oklahoma Board of Medical Examiners attempted to revoke Shadid's license and the State Medical Association tried to get a bill passed against medical cooperatives in the Oklahoma Legislature. The bill was defeated with the help of the Oklahoma Farmers' Union. The Farmers' Union took control of the hospital and the health plan in 1934. By 1939, Community Hospital served 15,000 farmers in the southwestern Oklahoma. During the later years of his life, Dr. Shadid suffered from diabetes, resulting in having both legs amputated.
Later life
Shadid traveled throughout the United States and Europe and gave speeches where he advocated for cooperative health care. He helped launch a health co-op in Deer Park, WashingtonDeer Park, Washington
Deer Park is a city in Spokane County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 3,652 at the 2010 census.-History:Deer Park was officially incorporated on June 24, 1908. Deer Park got its name when railroad surveyors saw deer grazing in the area. Deer Park was settled in 1889 when a...
and assisted the organizing committee that led to the formation of Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative, more commonly known as Group Health, is a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1947, it today provides coverage and care for about 700,000 people in Washington and Idaho and is one of the largest private employers in Washington...
. Shadid helped found the Cooperative Health Federation of America in 1947. He served as the Foundation's president from 1947 to 1949. In 1960 he built Hospital Haramoon in the Lebanese village where he was born. Shadid died in Kansas on August 13, 1966 and is buried in Oklahoma City at Fairlawn Cemetery. He was inducted into the Cooperative Development Foundation
Cooperative Development Foundation
The Cooperative Development Foundation is a 501 charitable organization engaged in cooperative development in the United States. CDF administers revolving loan funds, provides grants, and fosters economic development through the formation of cooperatives...
's Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1978.