It was a full circle moment for Dr. Lawrence Casey Mann III.
He was back at a Morehouse College event in Atlanta in July, where the Tidelands Health family medicine physician earned his bachelor’s degree in 1990. He was attending the prestigious Living Legends Gala – as an alum, father of a Morehouse medical student and guest of a distinguished guest, Dr. Gerald Harmon, who attended and spoke in his role as immediate past president of the American Medical Association.
“It was quite the honor,” said Dr. Mann, who practices with Dr. Harmon at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Pawleys Island.

Dr. Mann’s son, Matthew, accompanied him to the gala. Like his father, Matthew also earned his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse. Now, the aspiring physician is in the Morehouse School of Medicine.
“When I have gone back recently, it has been as a dad,” the proud father said.
But the July visit was different, and extra special – on so many levels.

The event celebrated excellence in public health and biomedical sciences and honored two outstanding Morehouse alumni health professionals and leaders who have made a tremendous impact on health care nationally and helped advance the cause of universal access to health care and diversity and inclusion: former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis W. Sullivan and former CDC director and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher.
The event took Dr. Mann down memory lane as he revisited his roots at Morehouse and recalled his days at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where Dr. Mann earned his medical degree. One of the gala’s honorees, Dr. Satcher, was president at Meharry Medical College when Dr. Mann was a student there. The two chatted following the dinner.
“In that way it was great, to have known someone who went on to do great things,” Dr. Mann said.

The gala was sponsored by the Thomas J. Blocker Society, a group for Morehouse alumni in health care and biomedical sciences. The historically Black college takes pride in producing exceptional graduates who go on to excel in their careers and embody what it means to be a “Morehouse Man,” a successful individual who aims to inspire others.
During his remarks at the Gala, Dr. Harmon recognized Dr. Mann for being a successful product of the Morehouse mission.
“It is pretty great, I’m not going to lie,” Dr. Mann said.