[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. MONICA DWECK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Monica Dweck, 
a native New Yorker who graduated from Hunter College High School and 
then attended Princeton University. However, after working for several 
years, she decided to attend medical school at the State University of 
New York at the Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Upon 
graduation, she interned at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, a large 
Level I trauma hospital. She returnee, to New York City to do her 
residency in Ophthalmology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary where 
she was the first African-American woman in their 180-year history.
  Her fellowship In Oculoplastic, Reconstructive and Orbital Surgery 
was done at the Cleveland Clinic and she was the first woman of color 
in the entire country to receive this type of fellowship training. She 
then entered private practice in Pennsylvania for several years. Dr. 
Dweck was soon recruited back to SUNY Downstate Medical Center to 
create an Oculoplastic Surgery curriculum for the Ophthalmology 
Residency Program there and to become Director of the Oculoplastic 
Surgery Service. A few months after her arrival, she was asked to run 
the Ophthalmology Residency Program. In 2005, Monica was appointed 
Vice-Chair and Program Director for the Department of Ophthalmology.
  Dr. Dweck has held many leadership positions locally, regionally, 
nationally and has chaired several committees at SUNY Downstate Medical 
Center. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the New York State 
Ophthalmological Society and also the Brooklyn Ophthalmological 
Society, where she served as President.
  In 2001, she was appointed by the New York State Board of Regents to 
the New York State Board of Medicine. Dr. Dweck was elected 
Chairperson-Elect of the National Medical Association--Ophthalmology 
Section In 2005.
  Dr. Monica Dweck has lectured on national and international levels 
and has several research abstracts and book chapters. She has received 
numerous awards over the years, including a listing in the Castle-
Connelly ``Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area'' annually since 2000 
and Strathmore's Who's Who.
  Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to recognize Dr. Dweck's remarkable 
career and selfless dedication to medical research, She is 
distinguished member of the Brooklyn medical community.

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