2025 -- H 5326
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING “NATIONA L WOMEN PHYSICIANS DA Y” ON FEBRUARY 3, 2025, IN
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Hull, J.
Lombardi, Felix, Morales, Slater, and Stewart
Date Introduced: February 06, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, National Women Physicians Day commemorates the birthday of Dr. 1
Elizabeth Blackwell, who, in 1849, became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the 2
United States; and 3
WHEREAS, Dr. Blackwell championed the participation of women in the medical field 4
and ultimately opened her own medical college for women, the Women's Medical College in 5
New York City. In addition, during the Civil War, she and her sisters worked closely with 6
Florence Nightingale, training nurses for Union Hospitals, to provide care for the sick and 7
wounded; and 8
WHEREAS, National Women Physicians Day honors the pioneering achievements and 9
ongoing contributions of all female physicians in the field of health care, including the notable 10
accomplishments of Dr. Velma Scantlebury-White, who was the first Black woman transplant 11
surgeon in the United States and who, over her 40-year career, performed an estimated 2,000 12
organ transplants; and 13
WHEREAS, Dr. Velma Scantlebury-White is no stranger to overcoming challenges. She 14
grew up in Barbados, and at the age of 15, immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, with her family. 15
Pursuing her dream of becoming a physician, she eventually earned her medical degree from 16
Columbia University, and eight years later, earned her Doctor of Surgery from Pitt School of 17
Medicine, a first in the country; and 18
WHEREAS, Dr. Velma Scantlebury-White is recognized as one of the top doctors in the 19
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United States and is passionate and dedicated to educating communities of color about the need 1
for more organ donors and the rising number of patients in need of transplantation; and 2
WHEREAS, Since 1849, women physicians have made remarkable strides in health care, 3
and as of May 2024, there were 424,536 female physicians in the United States; and 4
WHEREAS, In addition, over the course of the last four years, women have made up the 5
majority of medical school applicants, matriculants, and enrollees; however, a 2021 report from 6
the Rand Corporation found that female physicians earn $2 million less than men over the course 7
of their career; and 8
WHEREAS, Women physicians bring unique perspectives to patient care, and serve as 9
leaders, educators, researchers and mentors to future generations; and 10
WHEREAS, National Women Physicians Day honors the achievements of female 11
physicians and is a time to not only recognize the contributions of female physicians to 12
healthcare, but to also inspire future generations of female physicians, and to advocate for equal 13
pay and leadership opportunities; now, therefore be it 14
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 15
celebrates February 3, 2025, as “National Women Physicians Day”; and be it further 16
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 17
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mariah Stump, MD, MPH, President of the 18
Board of Directors, Rhode Island Medical Women’s Association (RIMWA). 19
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