by Mell P
Dr. Millicent Comrie’s passion for women’s health is legendary—and deeply personal. At the opening of the new Maimonides Clinton Hill Women’s Health Center, her excitement was palpable as she spoke about what this moment means for Brooklyn and beyond.
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“I’m excited for more visibility,” she shared. “We are now forced to invest and put more energy into our people—especially those who are not in a position to get the healthcare they deserve.”
As the Maimonides Clinton Hill opens its doors just steps from the Barclays Center, it offers convenient access via subway for patients traveling from Long Island, Delaware, and across the U.S.
For decades, Dr. Comrie, OB-GYN and Director at Maimonides, has been a fierce advocate for equitable access to medical care, particularly for women of color affected by fibroids—a condition impacting nearly 70% of African-American women. She emphasized that too many specialists still don’t accept Medicaid or Healthfirst, leaving the women who need their expertise most without options. “If we are not in a position to give the services to the people who needed the most,” she said, “then what are we doing?”
Dr. Comrie expressed deep gratitude to the elected officials who attended the opening, emphasizing the importance of their continued advocacy for women’s and maternal health at the policy level.
“I’m grateful to the politicians who came here today,” she said. “Their presence shows that they understand the real needs of our communities—because we’re the ones on the ground, listening to the women and seeing the struggles firsthand. My hope is that their voices in Albany continue to champion maternal and child health, which remains a critical part of our mission.”
She underscored that the new multi-specialty complex will allow her team to address a range of women’s health issues—from cardiovascular care and menopause management to high blood pressure prevention and maternal safety.
“With this facility, we’ll be preventing heart attacks, strokes, complications of pregnancy, and cardiovascular disease,” she explained. “We’ll monitor our patients closely and teach them how to love and care for themselves.”
Dr. Comrie added that self-examination and education are vital in improving outcomes. “Every woman should know how to perform her own breast exam,” she said. “Eighty percent of breast cancers are found by women themselves. Awareness and early action save lives.”
She also expressed gratitude to the Carib News, calling the decades-long publishing company “family” who have been instrumental in supporting and helping her reach communities across the Caribbean diaspora. “They exposed me beyond Jamaica,” she said. “Patients make trips to come here because they hear about the care.”
She also thanked her loyal patients who helped spread the word about her care via social media. “I’ve treated patients from Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana—women who who travel just to see us.”
One of her proudest moments came when she was invited to Liberia by President George Weah and his family, who she had once helped deliver their son, U.S. soccer player Timothy Weah. “They met me at the airport,” she recalled warmly. “It was humbling, and it showed how far our work reaches.”
Beyond the accolades, Dr. Comrie’s work is grounded in compassion. She spoke of a young woman, just 27, who came to her after being scheduled for a hysterectomy due to fibroids. “She had no children,” Dr. Comrie said. “I treated her—and she went on to have three.”
“We are here for the women who have been ignored for too long,” she said. “We’re teaching them to love themselves, to do their own breast exams, to advocate for their health. This center is for them—and because of them.”
Dr. Comrie sees a future where every woman, regardless of income or background, receives the care she needs. “At this stage of my career I don’t need to work, but I work because it’s about the dedication to duty.”
The Carnegie Corporation awarded Dr. Comrie in 2021 as one of their Great Immigrants. She has received numerous other accolades for her contributions to medicine and community health, including honors from the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association, The Network Journal’s 25 Influential Black Women in Business, and several humanitarian awards recognizing her lifelong commitment to women’s wellness, education, and empowerment.
