Dr. Ala Stanford to Address Graduates at USciences Commencement

Ala Stanford, MD, FACS, FAAP, a healthcare advocate and founder of the Black Doctors COVID19 Consortium (BDCC) and the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity, has been selected to address USciences graduates at the 201st Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The 2022 Commencement Ceremony will honor the classes of 2022 as well as graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021, whose original ceremonies were virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recognition of Dr. Stanford’s contributions to the Philadelphia community, particularly Black and African American residents, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she will also receive an honorary doctor of science degree during the ceremony and graduate with the class of 2022.

Dr. Stanford, a practicing physician for over 24 years, is board certified by the American
Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery and a healthcare advocate.

The BDCC consortium was formed in response to the disproportionate number of African Americans being diagnosed and dying from coronavirus in Philadelphia, PA and the lack of swift intervention to mitigate disease spread. The mission of the consortium is to educate, provide advocacy and barrier free coronavirus testing and vaccination to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. To date, BDCC has tested over 25,000 and vaccinated over 53,000 patients: over 1,000 were vaccinated in their homes.

On November 3, 2021, Dr. Stanford opened the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity to continue offering quality healthcare and education to the City of Philadelphia. Her research in basic science, clinical research, and public health have been published in peer reviewed medical journals and Dr. Stanford has served as a medical correspondent for local and national news outlets.

She serves on the CDC Philadelphia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee. Dr. Stanford teaches medical students and residents in training. She has worked and trained at the University of Pittsburgh, The State University of New York at Brooklyn, The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.