Senate Resolution No. 1457

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING Dr. Afia Wilson upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Medical Excellence
Award in Colorectal Surgery by Young, Gifted, &
Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose extraordinary leadership, innovation, and
commitment to patient care have advanced medical science, strengthened
healthcare systems, and exemplified excellence across clinical,
academic, and community spheres; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is proud to honor Dr.
Afia Wilson, MD, MPH, accomplished general surgery resident, rising
colorectal surgeon, public health scholar, and educator, upon the
occasion of her designation as recipient of the Medical Excellence Award
in Colorectal Surgery by Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards,
Inc., on Wednesday, February 25, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2006 by Carl Gray, Young, Gifted, & Black
Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
recognizing distinguished individuals of color across the Americas, the
Caribbean, and Africa, celebrating "Unsung Heroes and Heroines" whose
leadership, resilience, and service have made a lasting impact across
healthcare, business, arts, and community development; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Afia Wilson has distinguished herself as a pioneer in
colorectal surgery, leading the adoption and refinement of the NICE
procedure (Natural Orifice Intracorporeal Anastomosis with Transrectal
Specimen Extraction), a cutting-edge, minimally invasive technique that
reduces recovery time, postoperative pain, and scarring, while enhancing
patient dignity and outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Currently serving as Chair of General Surgery Resident
Research at her home institution, Dr. Afia Wilson oversees
groundbreaking studies in robot-assisted colorectal surgery, rib and
sternal plating, and predictive modeling to optimize surgical outcomes,
demonstrating a rare combination of technical mastery, scientific rigor,
and visionary leadership; and

WHEREAS, A dedicated mentor, educator, and public health advocate,
Dr. Afia Wilson works to expand advanced surgical access in
community-based and underserved hospitals, integrating population-level
healthcare perspectives into her practice to ensure excellence in
patient care across clinical and community settings; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Afia Wilson's academic accomplishments include a
Bachelor of Science from Howard University, a Doctor of Medicine from
St. George's University, and a Master of Public Health from George
Washington University, reflecting a commitment to both clinical
excellence and public health advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Her work exemplifies the integration of innovation,
compassion, and equity in medicine, inspiring colleagues, patients, and
future generations of surgeons to pursue excellence, challenge
conventions, and elevate standards of care; and

WHEREAS, Through a lifetime of transformative leadership, research
innovation, and dedication to patient-centered care, Dr. Afia Wilson
continues to redefine the field of colorectal surgery and advance the
cause of equitable healthcare delivery; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Afia Wilson upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Medical Excellence Award in Colorectal Surgery, and to commend
her extraordinary contributions to medicine, surgical innovation,
research, and public health; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Afia Wilson as an expression of the highest respect
and appreciation of this Legislative Body.