​Jamaican-born E. Dale Abel, MD, PhD, was recently elected as the president-elect of the Endocrine Society. His term as president-elect will commence March 20, 2018, and his presidential term will begin on March 20, 2019, for one year. Dr. Abel is the first president of the Endocrine Society from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Abel's appointments at the University of Iowa include: Francois M. Abboud chair and department executive officer, Department of Internal Medicine; director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism; John B. Stokes III chair in diabetes research; and director of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center.

Jamaican-born lawyer Jeffrey Fraser has been recognised as a Blackshear Fellow by the (United States) National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), and was honoured in October at this year's NCBJ Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
​
The Blackshear Fellowship is a minority fellowship programme awarded by the NCBJ and is named after Hon Cornelius Blackshear — an esteemed, retired African American Bankruptcy Judge from the Southern District of New York.

Each year, the NCBJ chooses a handful of minority lawyers to attend its annual conference. The fellowship is highly selective, awarded only to between one and five up-and-coming minority bankruptcy lawyers in the entire United States. The selected fellows are provided with a stipend to attend the NCBJ Conference; and honoured and presented with the award at a Fellowship Breakfast. Blackshear Fellows are attorneys who deserve special recognition for their professional accomplishments and who show the potential to distinguish themselves in future years in the area of Bankruptcy Law.

​Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks has launched the  Jamaica Roots getaway competition. 

​Jamaica Roots, as its name suggests, is about enabling Jamaicans living in the United States to reconnect with their history and culture. 

For those born in Jamaica, but who migrated to the United States for a number of years without returning, it will be a chance to reconnect. For Jamaican-Americans (children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren of Jamaicans), it will be a chance to connect and learn more about your family history and country of origin. 

Winners will have the option to stay at a hotel or live with a family member for one (1) week (all accommodation expenses paid), and enjoy guided tours all across the island to learn about the country and people of Jamaica, explore family roots, and experience what life is like in the local communities.