[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATING NEW NMA PRESIDENT DR. SANDRA L. GADSON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JESSE L. JACKSON, JR.

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize 
and congratulate one of my constituents and the 106th president of The 
National Medical Association, Dr. Sandra L. Gadson.
  Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association, NMA, is the 
largest and oldest national organization representing African American 
physicians and their patients in the United States. The NMA represents 
the interests of more than 35,000 African American physicians and the 
patients they serve and is the leading force for parity and justice in 
medicine and the elimination of health disparities. Throughout its 
history, the National Medical Association has focused primarily on 
health issues related to African Americans and medically underserved 
populations, as well as all ethnic groups.
  Many years ago, Dr. Gadson was herself a patient, facing a battle 
with colon cancer. In her own words, Dr. Gadson stated: ``When my 
patients curse a rising wave of pain or struggle to give voice to their 
suffering, I understand because I've been there.'' This experience has 
not only influenced Dr. Gadson to be a more sensitive and empathetic 
doctor, but it inspired her to improve the quality of service available 
to patients everywhere.
  While working in the Emergency Room at Methodist Hospital in Gary, 
Indiana, Dr. Gadson was shocked to learn that the predominately poor, 
African American city had a high prevalence of kidney failure but no 
dialysis center. She immediately took action and established the first 
freestanding dialysis center in northern Indiana.
  In her acceptance speech, Dr. Gadson said that as president of NMA, 
she will work to increase its membership and mentorship, advocate for a 
national health plan of universal coverage, strengthen partnerships 
with churches and the media to promote health awareness, and to launch 
initiatives in kidney disease that encourage transplantation and organ 
donation. Dr. Gadson, a practicing nephrologist, also made note of the 
fact that African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population 
but nearly one-third of all kidney patients. ``The crisis of kidney 
failure in the African American community mirrors the dilemma of health 
care disparities,'' Dr. Gadson stated.
  Dr. Gadson's contributions to the health community have been 
enumerable. As president of the NMA, she will continue to help decrease 
health disparities and increase access to high quality healthcare for 
all Americans. We are truly fortunate to have her as a part of our 
community, and I congratulate her on her achievement.

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