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小蝌蚪APP檚 recognition of Black History Month in February.
小蝌蚪APP We are excited to have someone like Dr. Melancon speak at the kickoff,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Jennifer Jackson, assistant to the president for Campus Diversity. 小蝌蚪APP淗e is the best in his field (pancreas and kidney transplants) and people are so proud as to what he has accomplished.小蝌蚪APP
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 小蝌蚪APP Hospital in Washington, D.C.
小蝌蚪APP MORE小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檚 antibodies allowing them to accept another person小蝌蚪APP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:
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 3 小蝌蚪APP UL Lafayette Black Faculty and Staff Caucus Research Forum, 2 p.m. Evangeline room, Student Union;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 4 小蝌蚪APP NAACP Candlelight Vigil, 7 p.m. Student Union porch;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 8 小蝌蚪APP Ballast, 4 and 7 p.m. Bayou Bijou;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 9 小蝌蚪APP African American Culture Committee Apollo Night, 7 p.m. Student Union Ballroom;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 10 小蝌蚪APP African American Culture Committee Movie Night, 7 p.m. Bayou Bijou;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 11 小蝌蚪APP Krewe of Roux King and Queen announcement, 2 p.m. Student Union;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 18 小蝌蚪APP NAACP Racial Profiling Forum, 7 p.m. Student Union Forum;
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 22 小蝌蚪APP AKA Movie Night Black Like Me, 6:30 p.m. Sidelines; and
小蝌蚪APP Feb. 23 小蝌蚪APP 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, 小蝌蚪APP Program Council小蝌蚪APP檚 African American Culture Committee and Greek Affairs.
For more information about these events, contact 482-6464.