[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE BLUFORD HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2018

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the 
Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI) for its remarkable work 
in training the next generation of health care leaders.
  The BHLI is a non-profit professional development program based in 
Kansas City, Missouri. Currently in its sixth year, BHLI is led by its 
founder, John W. Bluford, III, President Emeritus of Truman Medical 
Centers and former Chairman of the American Hospital Association and 
the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The BHLI is developing a 
pipeline of talented minority leaders that will diversify the ranks of 
health care leadership and work toward eradicating health care 
disparities. To date, 87 scholars--as participating students are 
called--have completed the program; 42 have received their 
undergraduate degrees, and 37 are working in the health care field.
  The BHLI is uniquely tailored for undergraduates primarily from 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities who aspire to lead health 
care organizations. The first phase of the program lasts for two weeks 
and provides the scholars with experiential and didactic training in 
Kansas City, featuring a cadre of nationally-recognized health care 
practitioners and policy experts. After successful completion of Phase 
I, the scholars are placed in paid internships across the nation where 
they delve more deeply into health care operations and policy.
  This summer, 14 Scholars successfully completed Phase I of the 
program: Chayse Bryant, Jasmine Thomas, and Jehnae Thomas of Florida 
A&M University; Elijah Evans, Nassir Holden, Alexandria Stanton, and 
Sikilae White of North Carolina A&T State University; Myles Harris of 
Fisk University; Antonio Zamudio-Moore of Rockhurst University; Miranda 
Merritt and Joy Milner of Spelman College and Camila Aponte, Dominique 
Paje, and Kyle Liggins of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Two 
scholars have just completed Phase II--internships here in Washington, 
D.C. Madison Blagrove of Florida A&M University interned at the 
Polsinelli law firm's Public Policy division. Madison is a pharmacy 
major who plans to practice clinical pharmacy upon the completion of 
her doctoral degree. Vanessa Mendoza of the University of Missouri-
Kansas City interned at America's Essential Hospitals (AEH). Vanessa is 
a Health Sciences major who plans to pursue a master's degree in health 
policy and law, and then advocate for increased access to health care 
coverage and preventive services for underserved communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate all the scholars for their hard 
work this summer and to commend Mr. Bluford for his strong commitment 
to developing and nurturing the nation's future health care leaders.

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