Dr. Ada M. Fisher for Congress - Get a Doctor in the House!

Ada M. Fisher, MD, MPH is a business minded physician with management experience in two major "Fortune 500" corporations as a Medical Director and Manager in Occupational Medicine, as well as public and private sector work in family medicine, community medicine and public health services. In November 2003, she also co-wrote and released a booklet, "Preparations to Survive a Terrorist Attack: Citizen's Advisory", which is based on her training in this area. Her expertise in Health Services Administration and Cost Effectiveness Budget Strategies provides her with a unique perspective on how to achieve health care reform. As an educator with experience in higher and professional education in addition to secondary education, Dr. Fisher knows how to evaluate program effectiveness and remains quite concerned about the welfare of children at risk. As one who volunteers to serve her community at many levels and as a parent, Dr. Fisher knows what's going on in much of North Carolina and has a feel for what will work for families. As a member of a country Board of Education and as part of the School Reform movement serving on one of Chicago's Local School Council, Dr. Fisher knows how to work in politics to make desired changes.

BACKGROUND:

Occupational and Employee Health Service physician, Chief of Occupational Health Services at the VAMC-Salisbury
Medical Director of Amoco Oil Company and Manager of Medical Policies and Practices for Amoco Corporation
Industrial Physician with anti-terrorism training at the Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, TN (now, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.)
State Substance Abuse Detoxification Director at the John Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC serving 16 County Catchments Area
A public health Chief Medical Officer and catalyst in the establishment of Plain View Health Center, a rural health initiative now serving migrant health workers in the Greenevers, NC area
Licensed and certified teacher in secondary education (UNC-G undergraduate)

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Previous board membership on Preservation NC, the Salisbury Rowan Symphony, Rowan Salisbury Schools Board of Education, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Order of Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliate, Atomic Chapter Number 13; Second Wednesday Ethics Group at Catawba College, Rowan Express Track and Field Club, Advisor for Brother-to-Brother (College men's discussion group at Livingstone College)
Life Member NAACP, UNC-G Alumni Association, and University of Wisconsin at Madison Medical School Alumni Association
Volunteer in efforts to assist the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in which she has established eight endowed scholarship awards, served on the Board of Trustees for Barber-Scotia College, served on the advisory committees at Livingstone College (National Youth Sports Program, Mathematics and Science Division, and Education Division); charter member African-American Network for Historic Preservation; -Award winning contributor to AIDS in the Workplace educational efforts

EDUCATION:

BA, UNC-Greensboro with certification
Secondary Education as well as teaching experience at the College and Medical School Levels
MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MPH, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Leadership America North Carolina inaugural class 2001-2002, One of Ten Outstanding Young Women in America (1984), University of North Carolina at Greensboro Alumni Distinguished Service Award, White House Fellows Finalist

Never far in heart from her native home state of North Carolina, Dr. Ada M. Fisher, moved to Salisbury in 1996 to serve as the Occupational Health Physician for the VAMC-Salisbury, now the W. G. (Bill Hefner) VA Medical Center at Salisbury, NC. Prior to returning to NC, Fisher had served briefly as the Associate Program Director - Occupational and Environmental Medicine for Healthline Corporate Health Services, Inc., an affiliate of the St. Louis University, serving 2500 businesses in the St. Louis area, as well as a consultant to Monsanto in that area.

Ada Markita Fisher was born in Durham, NC to the Rev. Dr. Miles Mark Fisher and his wife Ada Virginia Foster Fisher. As the sixth child born to this distinguished minister and ecclesiastic theologian and his wife, a gifted linguist in French and Latin, Fisher always knew that hers was a family that valued education and public service.

A product of the public schools of Durham, Ada M. Fisher graduated with honors from their Hillside High School, which is presently the state's largest high school facility. Fisher was also the first recipient of that school's Distinguished Alumni Award for serving the less fortunate and being willing to use her medical training wherever the need was in this state.

Ada M. Fisher entered college when many were struggling with integration and was in one of the earlier classes of UNC-G shortly after the institution not only changed its name from the Women's College of the University of North Carolina, but also admitted blacks. Fisher was one of only seventeen blacks out of a class with 52 black students admitted in her year who finished the college. Having to work her way through school, Fisher managed to stay active in campus affairs and was the entertainment editor and first sport's editor for that school's paper, the Carolinian. In addition she was a founder of the Neo-Black Society, that institutions prestigious black student organization which initiated the schools black studies offerings and is known for its gospel choir. Fisher showed a keen insight for policy and was a gifted orator in the Student Government Association. As a senior Fisher won awards as the Outstanding Legislator and as an Outstanding Senior, plus she was elected to deliver the speech for Class Day.

In 1985 Dr. Ada M. Fisher received her alma mater's recognition and award as one of its Distinguished Alumni. Fisher served UNC-G's alumni board for two different terms, recommended the establishment of a lifetime alumni membership gift giving campaign which was adopted and to which she joined the charter group of givers, was the first contributor for a fund to endow the Alumni House, and laid the foundation for the school's information manual for students as a recruitment guide. For her service to the university and her civic activism, Dr. Ada M. Fisher was inducted into the UNC-G Golden Chain Honorary Society in 1986.

Known as a generous university donor, Fisher received an engraved brick with her name from the university in 2002 in recognition of over 25 years of continuous giving, which joined her 2000 UNC-G pewter plate for gifts of over $25,000 during its first capital campaign. Fisher has worked to recruit students for her alma mater in addition to helping over 400 students enter and pay for an undergraduate education as well as helped more than three-dozen into medical school. If ever the term giveback had a self-less role model, it is Dr. Ada M. Fisher, MD, MPH.

Ada M. Fisher ventured to the state of Wisconsin for her medical training where she became the first black woman and only the 6th African American to attend and graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison Medical School. Fisher captured the essence of one of her experiences, "Diary of a Summer Extern" which was featured in the July 1973 "The New Physician" magazine along with her face on its cover. She authored several booklets in medical school designed to improve the matriculation rate of her peers, advised the admissions committee, and was a counselor for many of the minority students who came after her in the medical school. Fisher took the first monies she received as a physician and became a life member of the UW Medical School Alumni Association.

From Wisconsin, Dr. Fisher went on to train at one of the earliest and most prestigious residencies in her field, The Family Medicine Program, an affiliate of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. Here Fisher was known for her work ethic, accumulating the largest patient base in the history of the program, delivering as a resident more than 30 babies a year who were "her private patients," and participating in hundreds of surgical procedures as the first assistant. She was an associate chief resident for the program, assumed the role of Employee Health Physician for Highland Hospital, and was one of its most prolific moonlighters. Fisher's gift for writing was again appreciated as, Editor of that program's paper-"the Holler." While doing her residency, Dr. Fisher used her certification in secondary education as a volunteer high school teacher in health for Monroe High School.

In fulfillment of a service obligation, Fisher returned to NC through the US Public Health Service to serve the Plain View Health Center in Greenevers, NC as that facilities' Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director. For two years Dr. Fisher was the only physician in a county of 50,000 residents (Duplin) doing Obstetrics/Gynecology. While there, the UNC Chapel Hill Family Medicine Program cited Fisher in 1978 as "Community Physician of the Year". Her work culminated in the establishment of a state of the art community health center, which still stands today serving that area's residents in need and migrant workers. Fisher was on the town's Economic Development Council, which brought water and affordable public housing to that area, as well as served on the community clinical faculty for the University of North Carolina's Department of Family Medicine Program.

Dr. Fisher took time out to pursue a Masters in Public Health which was awarded in 1981 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, now their Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Fisher served a brief stint as the Director of the Family Medicine Program at Meharry Medical College, but honored her commitment to North Carolina returning to become the Detoxification Director for Substance Abuse at John Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC serving a 16 county catchments area.

During her time at the John Umstead Hospital, Dr. Fisher helped with community access and program development to reincorporate persons so affected back into their respective communities. Fisher also served as that facility's employee health physician. Fisher was selected a White House Fellows Finalist (1983) and would again become a Regional Finalist (1988). In 1984 Dr. Fisher was selected as one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Women in America." Dr. Fisher was responsible for the newspaper column "Spectacles" which ran in Durham's "Carolina Times".

The Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, TN offered Dr. Fisher her first full time foray into Occupational Health serving as an Industrial Physician for that secured facility operated by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. Pursuing a dream, the possibility of being an astronaut seemed there since MMES was a maker of the fuel tanks for the shuttle launchers. While in Oak Ridge Fisher trained in dealing with terrorism and radiation exposure both of which are proving insightful for such a time as these. Fisher was cited with Commendations for her work in taking to the employees and public, information on AIDS in the Workplace, served as a dead on consultant psychological assessor in terrorist drills, and was further recognized as a Tennessee Colonel by the state's then Governor Ned McWherter.

Tennessee was the initiation for Ada Markita Fisher as a member of Atomic Chapter #13, O.E.S. (Order of Eastern Stars, PHA). She was very active in the community becoming the President of the Local NAACP, as well as a lifetime member of that organization in 1989. Fisher's work with Dr. Robert Shepard and subsequent Knoxville College President Joe Boyer, Jr. helped to save that college's accreditation, eliminate a pressing debt of over one-half million dollars, insure its buildings and get many older structures designated as historic. In addition, Fisher marshalled her MMES engineering colleagues and that college's alumni through its President to redesign its street for drainage and resurfacing all at no cost to the institution. She also served on the Board of the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization. The Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. selected Dr. Fisher as the "Bronze Woman of the Year" in 1988 with a day proclaimed in her honor by the City of Oak Ridge, TN. Fisher continued to incrementally expand her entrepreneurial spirit investing in potential athletes as an agent, providing start-up funds for small business persons, and encouraging artist in their pursuits.

Of most importance to Dr. Fisher, it was in Tennessee that she developed love at first sight for a five-year-old young man, Shevin, who was to become her first son.

An opportunity to become the Medical Director for Amoco Oil Company at its Corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL followed drawing Dr. Fisher back to the Midwest.

Her Amoco stint also involved service as the Manager for Medical Policies and Practices at the Corporate Office, which culminated in the production of a policy manual, "Medical Policies and Practices" which is the state of the art in Occupational Health. Her interest in policies which produce positive outcomes for people showed itself in her work on several films including those on Blood Borne Pathogens, Chemical Exposures, and consultant work on other safety films leading to the company's receipt of several "Telly Awards" (the industrial film's equivalent of the Oscars), work as a Medical Review Officer (for evaluation of drug test results), design consultant with three medical facilities done to maximize office efficiency in limited space, improvement in services for employee health clients, co-authorship of several papers (published in peer-reviewed journals) and standards of care for occupational health, and recognition as a dynamic public speaker and presenter in the field of Occupational Medicine. These experiences afforded Dr. Fisher an opportunity to travel throughout the world representing Amoco, one of the then Fortune 500 companies, from Russia to Greece.

In the community Fisher was involved in Chicago's School Reform Movement and twice served on the William Ray Local School Council where her sons attended. An outspoken advocate for children, Fisher was on the Board of Directors of "An Ounce of Prevention Fund" and the African American Roundtable on Adoption for the state of Illinois.

It was here Dr. Fisher encountered the second major love of her life, who was five and to become her second son, Charles.

Dr. Fisher continued in her efforts to find students in need of an educational opportunity sending them to the warmth of the south. An opportunity to work with Bill Curtis on "The Young Explorer's Series" sponsored by Amoco produced a Peabody Award for that body of work. The urge to return home to the state she loved was strong and when an opportunity compatible with her training and interest developed, Dr. Fisher's first priority was to bring her kids home to NC to be near long-time family and friends.

Dr. Fisher was offered that opportunity as an occupational health physician at the VAMC because its Worker's Compensation Cost exceeded one and one-half million dollars annually. Cost-benefit analysis with win-win for employer and employee were Fisher's forte. Whittling the cost to almost one-half million in less than three years, Dr. Fisher's group's work established her as a leader for a national VA Technical Advisory Group on Occupational Health policies. Fisher was a member of several award-winning teams, which developed educational manuals, and self-help guides for employees and veterans, participated in that institutions accreditation efforts, increased immunization and preventative screening offerings to employees many of whom were veterans, and became a VISN VA consultant on Occupational Health Services which highlighted her abilities as a well-versed gifted public speaker.

Fisher became Chief of the VAMC-Salisbury's Occupational Health Services with additional responsibilities for safety practices and served as a member of the facility's executive management team. The forms developed by Fisher for Occupational Health Services were cited in a peer-reviewed journal as the standard of care for the industry. Dr. Fisher helped change many of the VA procedures so that hiring mainly reflected ability and physical capacities to do the work. Fisher was also instrumental in bringing to the fore action on an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) college student summer intern initiative which won increased funding and national VA recognition.

As a skilled manager and administrator with 25 years experience practicing medicine through various interlocking disciplines, Dr. Fisher has a license to practice medicine in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, and Tennessee and retired from the VAMC-Salisbury in 2000. She remains active in the medical profession as an independent medical examiner and as an advisor for those seeking disability and compensation assessments.

Noted for her candor and truthfulness, Dr. Fisher perceived a need for a different focus in her community's educational leadership. Dr. Fisher served on the Board of Trustees for Barber-Scotia College, the advisory board for several Livingstone College committees, as an Adjunct Professor in health for that school's Division of Education, and as an outspoken member of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education particularly as it relates to at-risk students-the need for equity in offerings and opportunities-protecting the health and safety of students as a primary motivator in decision making. Fisher also served as a Chair for "Bridge Builders," a member of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Board of Preservation North Carolina, the Board of the African American Historic Preservation Network, the second Wednesday Ethics Group at Catawba College, the Board of the Salisbury Symphony, a member of the Freeman's Cemetery Project Committee, a state task force on Ergonomics, and thoroughly enjoys reading to the kindergarteners at Overton Elementary School.

Dr. Fisher's recognitions have included The Livingstone College Fletcher Jones Athletic Service Award, membership in the Livingstone College President's Club in recognition of her major financial support to that institution, as well as advisor to the male student's "Brother to Brother" group. She was also selected for the inaugural class of Leadership America North Carolina and was a recipient of the I Have A Dream 1st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the National Ensemble Theatre, HLJTCA, Inc. She is proud to note that she gave the first monies for Salisbury's new Rowan County Chamber of Commerce Building and has over the years been a substantial supporter of the United Way Campaign efforts.

If ever an individual exemplified the concept of service above self, it is Dr. Ada M. Fisher who not only gives generously of her time and money, but who thinks ahead to the future going to serve without waiting to be called. In so doing, Dr. Ada M. Fisher has endowed eight scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, authored several books, is a gifted poet, a tireless mentor for young people, and as the first black Republican Candidate for the US Senate from North Carolina, tried to lay out the issues for this state and nation's future in her 2002 - 13 Step Prescription which is "Good For What Ails Us."

DR. ADA M. FISHER US NC 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CAMPAIGN

P.O. BOX 777, SALISBURY, NC 27145, (704) 223-ADA1 (2321) or (704) 637-6134 [Office] (704) 637-0317 [Fax]