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Also naming the 2700 block of N. 21st Street “Dr. Ala Stanford Way”, to recognize, honor, and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Ala Stanford and her dedication to the people of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ala Stanford, MS, FACS, FAAP is a practicing physician for over 20 years, board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery, and a health care advocate who grew up in North Philadelphia. She is the founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium; owns and directs R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine; holds a pediatric surgery private practice, Stanford Pediatric Surgery, LLC; is the founder of the non-profit organization It Takes Philly, Inc.; is a staff member at Abington-Jefferson Health; and serves on the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee. Dr. Ala Stanford is also the first African-American woman to complete her training in adult General Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, and one of two African-American women pediatric surgeons in North America to complete her Pediatric Surgery fellowship; and
WHEREAS, At the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Dr. Ala Stanford become increasingly frustrated as more cases and deaths were recorded week after week in Philadelphia. After hearing many discuss the myth that Black Americans were resistant or immune to COVID-19, Dr. Ala Stanford published a video to dispel the myth; and
WHEREAS, After receiving more and more calls from family, friends, and members in the community about their inability to access COVID-19 testing due to not having a car, not having a referral from a doctor, and/or not having health insurance, Dr. Ala Stanford organized the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, an initiative of It Takes Philly, Inc. that includes doctors and churches in Philadelphia’s Black neighborhoods. Since April 2020, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium began running mobile testing sites directly in the community, focusing on the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Philadelphia and partnering with trusted community anchor organizations; and
WHEREAS, The group overcame many challenges throughout the pandemic, including operating on a small budget, and fundraising and using their personal connections to pay for and receive personal protective equipment and testing supplies when the government provided little to no support. In June 2020, the City Council of Philadelphia successfully advocated for the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium to receive $1.3 million to continue its efforts in providing free COVID-19 testing; and
WHEREAS, According to WHYY, Dr. Ala Stanford and the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium have provided COVID-19 testing and education to over 21,000 people in the city since the pandemic’s outbreak in April, with a focus on Black people in communities underserved by the government and the health care industry; and
WHEREAS, In February 2021, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium began to provide vaccinations. The group operated Philadelphia’s first 24-hour, walk-in vaccine clinic at the Liacouras Center on Temple University’s campus. The group later began to offer walk-up vaccinations for city residents in priority groups of vaccine distribution, and that live in zip codes that are the hardest hit by COVID-19. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium has vaccinated over 25,000 Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ala Stanford has been recognized and awarded for her work as the founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. In December 2020, Dr. Ala Stanford won the Global Philadelphia Association’s Globy Award in community leadership. In January 2021, Dr. Ala Stanford became the 23rd recipient of the National Peace Corps Association’s Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award. She also received Philadelphia Public Relations Association’s 2020 Gold Medal Award, Interfaith Philadelphia’s 2021 Dare to Understand award, and Penn State Abington’s 2020 Alumni Achievement Award; and
WHEREAS, For this legacy of caring, dedication, and leadership, we in this Council join in recognizing and honoring the legacy of Dr. Ala Stanford, and hope that the renaming of the 2700 block of 21st Street will serve as a reminder of her service and commitment for generations of Philadelphians to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Also names the 2700 block of N. 21st Street “Dr. Ala Stanford Way” to recognize, honor, and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Ala Stanford and her dedication to the people of Philadelphia.
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