[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1862-E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO VENA RICKETTS, MD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Vena Ricketts for 
her tremendous contributions to our local and global communities. On 
October 12, 2001, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Foundation will honor 
Dr. Vena Ricketts with the ``Nelle Reagan Award for Distinguished 
Community Service'' in Woodland Hills, California.
  Dr. Ricketts stands out among physicians as a dedicated volunteer 
whose efforts reach those in medical need worldwide. She serves as a 
team leader on missions which provide impoverished people throughout 
the world with vital medical and dental care. These philanthropic 
missions have taken Dr. Ricketts to Nepal, Ghana, Bulgaria, Bethlehem, 
Palestine, Gambia, and most recently, Cambodia.
  Dr. Ricketts has also been extremely dedicated to serving her local 
community throughout her years in practice. She has served as a 
volunteer physician at the Hollywood Centrum Organization and the local 
House of Magdalene. In addition, Dr. Ricketts is the Medical Director 
at the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California.

[[Page E1863]]

  Currently, Dr. Ricketts is a professor at the UCLA School of Medicine 
and Assistant Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the 
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. She founded and heads up the hospital's 
Health Career Day in which hundreds of local students have been 
provided the opportunity to learn about career options in the medical 
field.
  The innovative teaching methods used by Dr. Ricketts at this career 
expo have received significant national attention. She received the 
Department of Emergency Medicine ``Golden Award for Excellence in 
Teaching'' as well as the National Emergency Residents Association 
``Augustine D'Orta Award for Excellence in Health Policy and Community 
Service''.
  Dr. Ricketts serves as an inspiration to all of us through her 
tireless dedication to providing exceptional medical care to people in 
need around the world. It is a distinct pleasure to ask my colleagues 
to join me in saluting Dr. Vena Ricketts on her outstanding 
achievements.

                          ____________________