[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 176 (Tuesday, October 31, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1459-E1460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING DR. OLIVIA SMITH-BLACKWELL AS SHE RECEIVES THE 2017 GOLDEN 
                           STETHOSCOPE AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2017

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
Olivia Smith-Blackwell as she receives the Golden Stethoscope Award 
from the Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family 
Physicians at the 2017 Cheplove Dinner. As we celebrate local leaders 
in family medicine, Dr. Smith-Blackwell's career and accomplishments 
deserve recognition.
  Dr. Smith-Blackwell's career demonstrates her depth and breadth in 
the field of medicine, including experience in public health, hospital 
administration, and clinical care. Her first endeavor out of medical 
school was to serve our community as Associate Medical Director of the 
Medical Assistance Program at the Erie County Department of Health, 
earning a promotion to Medical Director two years later. For thirteen 
years, Dr. Smith-Blackwell continued her public role as the Western 
Regional Health Director for the New York State Department of Health's 
Office of Public Health. She brought her skills next to Sheehan 
Hospital, where she was President & CEO until 2002. Dr. Smith-Blackwell 
then moved on to open Meadow Family Medicine in North Tonawanda, where 
she continues to provide primary care to patients in our community.
  Her educational background is equally as varied and impressive. Dr. 
Smith-Blackwell received her medical degree from the University at 
Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, now known as the 
Jacobs School of

[[Page E1460]]

Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her residency in Family 
Medicine at Deaconess Hospital in Buffalo in 1979. For her 
undergraduate degree, she attended the University of Pennsylvania. 
After earning her M.D., Dr. Smith-Blackwell went on to attain a Masters 
of Public Health from Columbia University.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to join Dr. Smith-Blackwell's husband. 
Roger Blackwell, her family, colleagues and friends to recognize the 
impressive contributions she has made in the medical field as she 
receives the Golden Stethoscope Award. So many in Western New York have 
benefited from her care, and I am grateful she chose to dedicate her 
life to bettering the well-being of our community.

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