Six-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix delivers keynote address to honor life and legacy of the late civil rights icon
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For the 32nd consecutive year, Cleveland Clinic hosted an annual tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The health system established its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration in January 1992 to honor the life and work of the social justice activist, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
The prerecorded program, led by Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and the holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, was broadcast on Friday, Jan. 12. The program featured a musical performance from contemporary jazz artist Michael Austine, and remarks from Oluwatosin “Tosin” Goje, M.D., medical director of the Center for Infant and Maternal Health at Cleveland Clinic.
The theme of this year’s community celebration was centered on a statement Dr. King made in 1966 at the Convention of the Medical Committee for Human Rights in Chicago, where he said: “Of all forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhuman.”
Raising awareness about racial disparities in maternal and infant health – considered an American healthcare crisis – took center stage during the virtual program. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. Black babies are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthdays.
Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete, gave the keynote address. Throughout her illustrious 20-year career, Felix won 31 medals at the Olympics and World Athletic Championships. Off the track, Felix has been even more impressive as an advocate for maternal rights, for all women, after facing her own traumatic childbirth experience.
During her keynote, Felix inspired attendees with her experiences of motherhood, finding her voice and confronting pregnancy discrimination.
Monday, January 15, marks what would have been Dr. King’s 95th birthday. Though his life was tragically cut short at the age of 39 in 1968, his legacy continues to inspire.
Cleveland Clinic remains committed to health equity and eliminating racial disparities in birth outcomes. The hospital has invested in several initiatives to promote change so that every mother and child has the care they need to thrive:
To watch the program, click here.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
