The Louisiana Primary Care Assocation feted Dr. Victor Jackson of Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center as the “Outstanding Health Care Provider of the Year” on Oct. 10, in Shreveport. Jackson earned the award with his dedication and compassion. 

His wife and his employers say he wins the heart of his patients, because he is a provider who goes the extra mile. 

His work has caught the eye of two state associations — the Louisiana Rural Health Association and the Louisiana Primary Care Association, which honored him as Provider of the Year at its convention earlier this month.

And still, Dr. Victor Jackson, 71, a member of the staff of Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center, remains solid in commitment and passion to bring health care to all people. 

Cynthia, his wife, said, “this is what he lives for.” 

“I’ve never seen anyone like him. And I’m not just saying this because he is my husband,” she said.

There are patients who will wait up to two hours to see him, because that’s how much they trust him. And let’s not forget the house calls he makes.” 

Sandra Moore, board president of the Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center, said Jackson’s reputation speaks of his passion. 

“Talk to anyone of his patients. They all describe the care he gives them. He has an excellent bedside manner.” 

Roderick Campbell, chief executive officer of Iberia Comprehensive, said Jackson has been on staff for 12 years. 

“Dr. Jackson is well known in our system. And the fact that LPCA and the Louisiana Rural Health Association have both honored him as provider of the year, stamps him rock solid in his work,” Campbell said. 

Jackson, a native of Chicago, is a 1974 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, a Historically Black College University, founded in 1876. It was the first medical school in the South for African Americans.  After graduation, he moved to New Orleans to work at the Desire Medical Clinic, then later moved to Los Angeles to work for the Watts Health Care Foundation. 

In 1986, he moved back to Louisiana, and went to work at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge. 

At Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center Jackson also holds wellness and prevention, diabetes training and bariatric training classes. 

“He is a mentor to many, shares personal struggles but somehow remains calm, positive and optimistic with everyone he meets,” Campbell said. 

The LPCA feted Jackson on Oct. 10, at the convention in Shreveport. 

Jackson used his acceptance speech to send a message to insurance providers, by sharing a story of a patient who was struck with breast cancer. 

“Insurance providers — be our partners in this. We should not be enemies. We should be on the same team when it comes to health care,” he said. 

Jackson told the audience his patient, a 39-year-old female, who is  paralyzed because  cancer had metastasized to her spine. He said radiation had not helped, and the cancer was on its way to her brain. 

“My nurse and I went to her home, because she could no longer come to the clinic. As I held her hand, she said, “Doc, I’m not giving up. I need your help in getting me into M.D. Anderson,’ “ he said. 

“Well, she had insurance, so my nurse got on the phone and spent almost five hours in trying to get her insurance company to come on board with the issue,” yet he said, the conversations didn’t appear to go anywhere. 

“I told them, ‘If one of my patients wanted to reach me at 3 a.m. in the morning, they can call me and I’ll be there. But here I am trying to speak to one of my patients’ insurance providers to help them with their sickness and I can’t get anywhere. This is totally insane,’ “ he said. 

“They apologized to me. I said don’t apologize to me, apologize to my patient, your customer.” 

“Mr. Insurance provider, we physicians understand that health care is a business, but we want you to know that health care comes before the business of health,” Jackson said. 

Addressing the LPCA audience, he said, “So I told my patient I was coming here tonight to use my authority as provider of the year, to make a plea to the insurance companies. Let’s see what happens.”

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