WHEREAS, after hearing the story about nearly dying of whooping cough at the age of two because of his family’s little access to health care, David Satcher was inspired to become a doctor; and
WHEREAS, we recognize Dr. David Satcher, MD, PhD, for being a trailblazer in the public health industry as the former appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1993 and as the 16th Surgeon General of the United States during the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1998-2002 while, at the same time serving as the 10th Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Dr. Satcher, exercising his long commitment to removing the stigma attached to mental illness, wrote the first surgeon general’s report on mental health – Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General; and from 2002-2004, Dr. Satcher held the position of Director of the National Center for Primary Care (NCPC) at the Morehouse School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, Dr. Satcher founded The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine serving as the Director and Senior Advisor with the mission to develop a diverse group of exceptional health leaders, advance and support comprehensive health system strategies, and actively promote policies and practices that will reduce and ultimately eliminate disparities in health; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Satcher is a Morehouse College and Case Western Reserve University graduate, becoming the first African American to earn both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in cytogenetics and held the top leadership position at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the Meharry Medical College and the Morehouse School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina recognizes Dr. Satcher for his immeasurable work and legacy for equality within public health industry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 20, 2021, as a day “IN RECOGNITION OF DR. DAVID SATCHER” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.