The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING DR. BARBARA FERRER AS A 28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF
THE YEAR
______
HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Woman's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Dr. Barbara Ferrer of the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Ferrer obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Arts in Public Health from Boston University, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Brandeis University. A renowned and respected public health leader, Dr. Ferrer has more than four decades of professional experience as a researcher, philanthropic strategist, community advocate, educational leader, and public health director.
Dr. Ferrer has held several leadership positions throughout the years, serving as Director of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention and Director of the Division of Maternal & Child Health, respectively, at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She also served as Headmaster at a high school in Boston, where she spearheaded efforts to improve high school graduation rates. After working in these capacities, Dr. Ferrer served as the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. In this role, she directed the city's health department, including managing 1,100 employees, oversaw all Commission programs, and was a senior member of the Mayor's cabinet, advising on health-related issues. Under her leadership, the City of Boston experienced improvements in health outcomes, such as a decrease in the rates of childhood obesity, infant mortality, and smoking. Dr. Ferrer then went on to work for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Michigan as the Chief Strategy Officer, where her responsibilities included developing the strategic direction and providing leadership to the foundation's key program areas, such as community engagement, racial equity, and family economic security.
Presently, Dr. Barbara Ferrer serves as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which prevents disease, protects health, and promotes well-being and equity in Los Angeles County. In this capacity, she oversees a workforce of nearly 7,000 staff, and oversees all operating units, including the Bureaus of Operations Support, Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Disease Control. Dr. Ferrer guided the area's coronavirus pandemic response, collaborating with the County and community-based partners to ensure targeted services and appropriate policies to keep Los Angeles County residents safe during this health crisis. She leads the Department's Incident Command System, incepted at the start of the pandemic to facilitate informed decision-making and implementation of mitigation and response activities, such as safety protocols. The crisis response has included communications with education sectors, residents, and businesses, disease and outbreak management, vaccine planning and administration, development and implementation of health officer orders, and engagement of community leaders and stakeholders in response efforts. Dr. Ferrer's unparalleled and compassionate leadership, coupled with her wealth of knowledge, helped the community navigate during these unprecedented times.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Barbara Ferrer.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 131
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