Recognizing Dr. Keith Copelin Ferdinand

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand for his recognition as a 2023 Southern University at New Orleans Center for African and African American Studies Living Legend. Dr. Ferdinand is receiving this high honor because of his dedicated service to the citizens of New Orleans as a Cardiovascular Physician. For over 40 years, Dr. Ferdinand has endeavored to improve the health and lives of African Americans and other high risk, marginalized populations. He has devoted his life in medicine to eliminating the health disparities of New Orleans' most ostracized. people. In light of all of the aforementioned professional tributes, the roles he most treasures are devoted son, sibling, father, and husband.

Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASH, FNLA began his medical career with a BA in biology from the University of New Orleans. He then went on to earn an MD from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, an internship at the US Public Health Hospital in New Orleans, an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at LSU Medical Center and a cardiology fellowship at Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C. Following his years of doing clinical work, research and teaching at Xavier University, LSU, Baylor College of Medicine, and Emory University, Dr. Ferdinand returned to New Orleans as a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Tulane University Heart and Vascular Institute.

Dr. Ferdinand has been heavily involved in many national organizations concerned with public health, including the Association of Black Cardiologists, of which he was the former Chair and Chief Science Officer, the American Society of Hypertension, of which he was a board member, and the Healthy Heart Community Prevention Program, a cardiovascular risk program targeting African American and other highrisk populations. He is the immediate-past Chair of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, which provides the leadership and encouragement for collaboration among over 65 organizations. Dr. Ferdinand focuses largely on cardiac risk factor evaluation and control, especially hypertension and hyperlipidemia, including communities of racial and ethnic minorities. He has had over 100 manuscripts published and has a strong media presence. His passion for patient care is highlighted by his commitment to non-profit work and community service. In 2015 he was inducted into the Association of University Cardiologists. He also focused on improving patient care and eliminating health disparities by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender through research and academic interests.

I am humbled to personally know such a great physician, who has done so much to improve the lives of countless residents across my district. We are so honored to have Dr. Ferdinand, a true advocate for patient care.

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