A 1982 UL Lafayette graduate known in the medical fields as a leader in multiple kidney transplantation will be speaking at the fifth annual Black History Kickoff on Feb. 1. Dr. J. Keith Melancon is the keynote speaker for the event, which marks the beginning of the university杏吧专区檚 recognition of Black History Month in February.
杏吧专区 We are excited to have someone like Dr. Melancon speak at the kickoff,杏吧专区 said Dr. Jennifer Jackson, assistant to the president for Campus Diversity. 杏吧专区淗e is the best in his field (pancreas and kidney transplants) and people are so proud as to what he has accomplished.杏吧专区
The event is set for 5 p.m. at the Student Union Ballroom. It is free and open to the public. Food and prizes will be given away.
Melancon recently made national headlines when he was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams for a 14-patient kidney exchange in Washington, D.C. It was the largest kidney exchange of its kind to take place in one city.
Melancon is director of kidney and pancreas transplant surgery at Georgetown 杏吧专区 Hospital in Washington, D.C.
杏吧专区 MORE杏吧专区揌e was part of a team of doctors that pioneered the use of plasmapheresis to address kidney donor compatibility. The procedure lowers a person杏吧专区檚 antibodies allowing them to accept another person杏吧专区檚 organ. This is especially important for with high levels of antibodies that make a traditional donor match virtually impossible.
Other events to be held throughout February include:
杏吧专区 Feb. 3 杏吧专区 UL Lafayette Black Faculty and Staff Caucus Research Forum, 2 p.m. Evangeline room, Student Union;
杏吧专区 Feb. 4 杏吧专区 NAACP Candlelight Vigil, 7 p.m. Student Union porch;
杏吧专区 Feb. 8 杏吧专区 Ballast, 4 and 7 p.m. Bayou Bijou;
杏吧专区 Feb. 9 杏吧专区 African American Culture Committee Apollo Night, 7 p.m. Student Union Ballroom;
杏吧专区 Feb. 10 杏吧专区 African American Culture Committee Movie Night, 7 p.m. Bayou Bijou;
杏吧专区 Feb. 11 杏吧专区 Krewe of Roux King and Queen announcement, 2 p.m. Student Union;
杏吧专区 Feb. 18 杏吧专区 NAACP Racial Profiling Forum, 7 p.m. Student Union Forum;
杏吧专区 Feb. 22 杏吧专区 AKA Movie Night Black Like Me, 6:30 p.m. Sidelines; and
杏吧专区 Feb. 23 杏吧专区 African Americans in Louisiana Symposium, 5:30 p.m. Bayou Bijou.
The kickoff event is sponsored by the Office for Campus Diversity, South Louisiana Community College, Enrollment Services, 杏吧专区 Program Council杏吧专区檚 African American Culture Committee and Greek Affairs.
For more information about these events, contact 482-6464.