[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE MEDICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. ROBERT SMITH, SR. TO THE 
                         CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the outstanding medical contributions of Dr. Robert Smith, Sr. and 
congratulate him on being honored as a ``Living Legend'' by Central 
Mississippi Health Services, Incorporated.
  A native of Terry, Mississippi, Dr. Smith is no stranger to hard work 
and has dedicated much of his life to serving others. He earned his 
Bachelor's of Arts in Chemistry from Tougaloo College in 1957 and his 
M.D. from Howard University in 1961. Dr. Smith has done extensive 
postgraduate training at some of the Nation's most prestigious medical 
institutions such as the University of Mississippi, the University of 
Tennessee, the Cook County Postgraduate School and the Harvard 
University. He has an array of professional certifications and has been 
appointed to a number of administrative, instructional, clinical and 
hospital positions.
  Dr. Smith stood fearlessly on the front lines during Mississippi's 
Freedom Summer, when civil rights demonstrations were held from 
Mississippi to Selma, Alabama to Chicago, Illinois, to combat racial 
inequality.
  Equally significant, was as Dr. Smith fought to end inequality for 
blacks socially, politically and economically, he fought a separate 
fight in the medical profession. Dr. Smith was instrumental in exposing 
the racial practices taking place within the American Medical 
Association. His unwavering commitment to battling acts of racism and 
discrimination within the medical profession has earned him critical 
acclaim in national publications such as the New York Times, Time 
Magazine, Ebony, Brown Magazine, Tufts Medicine and a number of notable 
scientific publications.
  A compassionate man who provides medical care to poor, uninsured and 
underserved patients, Dr. Smith was the primary founder of the model 
for the National Neighborhood Health Center Movement which today serves 
over 17 million Americans.
  Dr. Smith was the first African American physician to serve as Chief 
of Staff at a majority tertiary level hospital in Jackson, Mississippi 
and has served as a Charter Diplomat and a fellow with the American 
Board of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
  He was one of the lead investigators with the National Research 
Program for the National Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study at 
the University of Mississippi Medical Center which is currently known 
as the Jackson Heart Study.
  Dr. Smith over the years has proven to be very instrumental in 
diabetic studies. He has served as primary care physician for the 
Central Mississippi Health Service.
  He chaired the Committee that oversaw the naming of the first federal 
building to be named after an African American in the state of 
Mississippi, the Dr. A.H. McCoy Federal Building, located in Jackson, 
MS.
  Dr. Robert Smith is indeed a champion of the people and a trailblazer 
within the medical profession.
  His contributions to his community, profession, state, and nation 
should serve as example for generations to come.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to recognize 
and congratulate a son of Mississippi, Dr. Robert Smith, Sr., for his 
role in advocating for equality in the medical profession.

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