Dr. Sandral Hullett

https://give.ua.edu/?d=4280A2EF-4984-4EA4-8478-44AA30952A33Dr. Sandral Hullett, a medical professional who dedicated her career to improving rural health care for Alabamians passed away on March 22, 2024, at the Hospice of West Alabama.

Dr. Hullett was a gifted clinician, effective administrator, and tireless humanitarian. A native of Birmingham, Dr. Hullett graduated from George Washington Carver High School, earned her undergraduate degree from Alabama A&M University, her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and her master's in public health from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was the first female and the second African American accepted into The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Hullett's profession in rural healthcare included an emphasis on healthcare delivery to the under-served, the under-insured, and the poor. She began her career, as a family physician, at Greene County Hospital/Clinic. For over 22 years, Dr. Hullett served as both a physician and director for the not-for-profit Family HealthCare of Alabama where she supervised the operation of 24 primary health care facilities serving 20 rural counties. Dr. Hullett was the first African American female hospital CEO in the state of Alabama as the Director of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital in Birmingham.

In 1982, Dr. Hullett became the first medical doctor, first female, and second African American trustee appointed to The University of Alabama Board. Her contributions to higher education were recognized in April 2001 when she received the national Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship, the nation's top honor bestowed on a lay board member of a public university.

Active in many local, state, and national organizations, she served as a member of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Institute of Medicine; the National Academy of Sciences; Intercultural Cancer Council; the Steering Committee for the Alabama Partnership for Cancer Control in Underserved Populations; the Advisory Committee for the Minority Medical Education Program; the Institute of Medicine Committee on Environmental Justice; and the Institute of Medicine Committee on the Changing Market, Managed Care, and the Future Viability of Safety Net Providers, Mercedes Benz Board, and the Kettering Foundation. She also served as a project manager and principal investigator for grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

During her illustrious career, she received numerous awards including the National Rural Health Association's "Rural Practitioner of the Year" award, the National Association of Community Health Centers' "Clinical Recognition Award for Education and Training", Leadership Alabama's "Distinguished Leadership Award", the National Black Churches Family Council's "Rural Leadership Image Award", Birmingham Business Journal Businessperson of the Year, Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame Awardee, and in 2000 she was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor. She was also a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc.

Dr. Sandral Hullett was preceded in death by her parents, Ransom and Annie (Wright) Hullett. She leaves to cherish her memories: husband, Charles Robertson, three stepchildren; Dr. Ischaji (Elena Cruz, transcended) Robertson, Maisha Robertson, Marika (Patrick) Johnson; sister Gloria Hullett-Smith; brother Elder Charles (Martha) Hullett; sister-in-law Khadijah Ishaq; devoted nieces; Strelitzia (Kenny) King, Amberley Sandral Smith and devoted cousin Deborah (Arthur) Gray; 5 step grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; cousins and many other relatives and friends. She leaves a noble and resounding legacy that will forever live in the memory of those whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers or gifts, Dr. Hullett requested donations in her memory to be lovingly sent to the Greene County Hospital (Attn: Dr. Marcia Pugh, 509 Wilson Ave., Eutaw, AL 35462) and/or the Dr. Sandral Hullett Endowment Scholarships at The University of Alabama (https://give.ua.edu/?d=4280A2EF-4984-4EA4-8478-44AA30952A33). Dr. Hullett's viewing will be held on March 29, 2024 from 12:00pm-6:00pm at Poole's Funeral Chapel, her Celebration of Life will be held on March 30, 2024 at 12:00pm at the Cathedral of the Cross A.O.H. Church of God, and she will be laid to rest at Jefferson Memorial Gardens

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Sandral Hullett, please visit our floral store.