“Celebrate the Healer Within” Walter P. Lomax Jr., MD Mural Dedication

Join us to dedicate Celebrate the Healer Within by Athena Scott, a new mural honoring the the life and legacy of Walter P. Lomax, Jr. M.D. (1932–2013), physician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, whose decades of service transformed healthcare access for Philadelphia communities.

The dedication will include a ribbon-cutting and remarks from the artist and members of the Lomax family. Enjoy good food and community while learning more about Dr. Lomax’s lasting contributions to Philadelphia history, including a film screening and stories from WURD Radio.

For 32 years, Dr. Lomax provided compassionate medical care in South Philadelphia and across Philadelphia, building full-service medical centers in underserved, predominantly Black neighborhoods. Celebrate the Healer Within by Athena Scott brings his story to life, from the site of his first clinic to an organization he founded providing essential medical care to incarcerated people.

After development obscured an earlier 2000 tribute by David McShane, the Lomax family partnered with the Point Breeze Business Association and Mitchum-Wilson Funeral Home to revive it. Positioned once again near the streets that shaped him, the artwork ensures that Dr. Lomax’s story remains visible and accessible to the community he loved and served for more than thirty years.

Come celebrate the latest iteration of this mural, honor Dr. Lomax’s legacy, and help keep South Philadelphia history alive!