LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ovadia Abulafia, M.D., upon the occasion
of his designation by the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush as
the recipient of the Distinguished Medical Rofeh Award at its 30th Anni-
versary Community Legislative Breakfast on March 15, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious individuals of the State of New York whose
purposeful endeavors serve to enhance the quality of life in their
communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend Dr. Ovadia Abulafia upon the occasion of his designation for
special honor by the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) of Flatbush
as the recipient of its 2009 Distinguished Medical Rofeh Award; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ovadia Abulafia, Professor and Chairman of the Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, will accept the award on behalf of SUNY
Downstate Medical Center at the Council's 30th Anniversary Community
Legislative Breakfast, to be held at The Kings Terrace in Brooklyn, New
York, on Sunday, March 15, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Since 1979, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush
has coordinated the efforts of all parts of the Jewish community,
including educational, healthcare, religious, social welfare and other
organizations and institutions, and has acted as an advocate for the
communal and individual needs of the entire, increasingly diverse,
Southern Brooklyn community; and
WHEREAS, Its 30th Anniversary Community Legislative Breakfast provides
an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have supported the Council
and have helped to further its efforts, as well as those who exemplify
its mission of improving the quality of life of the citizens it serves;
and
WHEREAS, SUNY Downstate Medical Center is Brooklyn's only academic
medical center; older than the Brooklyn Bridge, when founded in 1860,
its faculty revolutionized medical education, bringing the teaching of
medicine to the hospital bedside rather than being taught exclusively in
the lecture hall; and
WHEREAS, Today, SUNY Downstate Medical Center is one of New York
State's and the nation's leading urban medical centers and is fittingly
being honored in recognition and appreciation of its unremitting dedi-
cation to serving the people of Brooklyn, among the most diverse popu-
lations in the world, in keeping with its mission of providing outstand-
ing education, research, and patient care; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ovadia Abulafia, proudly accepting the Distinguished
Medical Rofeh Award on behalf of the Medical Center, was born in Israel
and earned his medical degree from the Tel Aviv University Sackler
School of Medicine; he completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecolo-
gy at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and, later, a Fellowship in Gyneco-
logic Oncology at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and is board
certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology;
and
WHEREAS, After completing his fellowship, Dr. Ovadia Abulafia served
the indigent population of Huntington, West Virginia as Director of the
Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Ob/Gyn Department at Marshall
University School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, He returned to New York City in May 1997 to be Chief of the
Ob/Gyn Service at Kings County Hospital and Dr. Ovadia Abulafia has,
since September 1997, been affiliated with SUNY Downstate Medical

Center, currently ably serving as Professor and Chairman of the Depart-
ment of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ovadia Abulafia has established a record of academic and
professional excellence; he is recognized nationally and internationally
in the field of Gynecologic Oncology, has served on the national commit-
tee which establishes the standard of care for the clinical management
of cervical cancer, has had many peer-reviewed papers published in pres-
tigious medical journals, and is a longtime Principal Investigator for
the Gynecologic Oncology Group of the National Cancer Institute; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ovadia Abulafia continues to teach medical students, to
direct SUNY Downstate Medical Center's Ob/Gyn residency and Gynecologic
Oncology fellowship programs, and to be committed to assisting the
underprivileged and less fortunate and to ensuring the deliverance of
the best possible medical care to all patients and, in addition, contin-
ues to maintain an active practice as a gynecologic oncologist and
surgeon; and
WHEREAS, With Dr. Ovadia Abulafia throughout have been his wife
Alison, and their daughters, Abigail and Rachel, all of whom are proud
to be part of his life and rejoice in his many achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the
edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Ovadia Abulafia upon the occasion of his designation as the
recipient of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush's Distin-
guished Medical Rofeh Award at its 30th Anniversary Community Legisla-
tive Breakfast on March 15, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Ovadia Abulafia.