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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Alan Keister of Amarillo has been named the |
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recipient of the Dr. Oscar E. Edwards Memorial Award for |
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Volunteerism and Community Service by the American College of |
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Physicians; and |
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WHEREAS, An internal medicine specialist, Dr. Keister |
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recognized a need for health care among the city's uninsured, and in |
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2013, he began offering free health screenings at local schools; |
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the response led him to found the Heal the City free clinic in |
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partnership with Generation Next Church; the clinic opened on |
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September 8, 2014, in a 1,400-square-foot house with four small |
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exam rooms; initially operating once a week, it served urgent-care |
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patients on Monday nights; and |
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WHEREAS, Numerous medical partners, donors, and volunteers |
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were inspired to join Dr. Keister's effort, and the growing clinic |
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relocated to the former Midtown YMCA building, a 20,000-square-foot |
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facility; as it expanded its hours, it also added such programs as a |
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monthly Women's Night for cancer screenings; in 2017, the clinic |
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launched a chronic care program, Shalom, and treated 7,000 |
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patients; today, more than 100 medical professionals give |
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generously of their time and expertise to the clinic, assisted by |
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some 400 community volunteers; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Keister, an Amarillo native, graduated from |
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Baylor University and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical |
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School; he subsequently completed his internal medicine studies at |
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Vanderbilt University and returned to his hometown in 2000; his |
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work has been informed by his participation in faith-based medical |
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missions to Central America; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his dedicated efforts as founder of Heal the |
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City, Alan Keister has contributed immeasurably to the well-being |
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of thousands of Amarillo residents, and he is richly deserving of |
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this prestigious accolade; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Alan Keister on his receipt of |
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the Dr. Oscar E. Edwards Memorial Award for Volunteerism and |
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Community Service from the American College of Physicians and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Keister as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |