[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3038-3039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  IN RECOGNITION OF ERNEST C. LEVISTER

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
philanthropic works of Ernest C. Levister, Jr., M.D. For his 
longstanding commitment to the health of residents of the Inland 
Empire, he has been honored by the California Medical Association 
Foundation with the Robert D. Sparks, M.D. Leadership Award.
  The Robert D. Sparks, M.D. Leadership Award recognizes individuals or 
organizations for outstanding community health achievements. Dr. 
Levister's accomplishments have not only met this criterion, but led to 
programs and policy that will continue to facilitate medical advances 
for years to come.
  For the past 30 years, Dr. Levister has used his expertise to educate 
others, empowering his community with knowledge. He has been honored 
for addressing the medical concerns and questions of the Inland 
Empire's African-American community through his ``Our Bodies'' column 
in the Black Voice News since 1986. His founding role in the Technology 
Access Partnership Foundation, a foundation that endeavors to increase 
accessibility to informational technologies, is also testament to his 
commitment to ensuring that traditionally underrepresented groups have 
the tools they need to live happy, healthy lives.
  As president of the J.W. Vines Medical Society from 1994 to 2001, Dr. 
Levister strove to make educational opportunities available to students 
of all backgrounds, encourage African Americans' entrance into and 
continued progress in the medical field, and improve overall patient 
care. He is a cofounder of the Vines Foundation, which works to create 
educational opportunities for African-American students pursuing health 
and science-related careers.
  Dr. Levister is credited as a major influence in changes that the 
University of California, Riverside made to its Bio Medical Science 
Program, which now offers more opportunities to disadvantaged students 
and pre-med faculty positions to those who are traditionally 
underrepresented. Other recognitions include the Silver Scalpel Award 
from the California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery for his 
work to protect the rights of injured workers and their physicians, the 
2000 Black Rose and Humanitarian of the Year Award given to Dr. and 
Mrs. Levister for their service to their community, and the San 
Bernardino County Medical Society's 2003 Award for Outstanding 
Contribution to the Community.
  Dr. Levister's fine leadership has paved the way for the continued 
propagation of a diverse medical community to address the complex and 
varied health care needs of the Inland Empire Community. It is with 
great pleasure that I congratulate Dr. Levister on his receipt of the 
prestigious Robert D. Sparks Leadership Award.

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