A Genius Among Us

There's a genius among us and she works in Bayou La Batre!

Family doctor Regina Benjamin is a recipient of what's known as the "Genius Award" from the MacArthur Foundation.

Dr. Benjamin helps those in need everyday. She made house calls to patients that didn't even have homes after Hurricane Katrina. Her own clinic was damaged in the storm and she lost the replacement clinic in a fire.

Benjamin has no idea who nominated her and is modest about the win! "Some of the other people are really gifted and talented. They have all these special God given talents. I'm just here. I'm just doing things that everybody else would do."

Known as the "Hurricane Doctor," Benjamin plans to use some of the money to continue construction on a new 8-thousand square foot clinic. The facility is being built on donations and the money is running out. She also plans to give her employees a pay raise and offer a scholarship to a high school student interested in rural medicine.

25 people in the United States got the "Genius" honor and will receive 500-thousand dollars over the next 5 years. Each person must be nominated and the win money comes with no strings attached.