Loading ...Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr.,to Receive ACCESS Arab American of the Year Award
Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, will receive ACCESS’ prestigious Arab American of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to individuals or organizations for their commitment and contribution to the development of their community on a local and national level. Charles W. Boustany
Mr. Boustany will be cited at the 38th ACCESS Anniversary Dinner on May 2, 2009 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. Now serving his third term in office, Boustany represents Louisiana’s Seventh Congressional District. Boustany has championed health care reform, sound energy policy and hurricane recovery with time-proven solutions for all Americans.
As a physician, Congressman Boustany understands the importance of health care and is at the forefront of health care policy in Congress. He believes the patient-doctor relationship is the most important part of health care and has worked to implement patient-centered health care solutions.
As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee with jurisdiction over tax, trade, health care and entitlement policy, Boustany promotes sound economic development, expand markets for U.S. produced goods and works to put programs like Medicare and Social Security on solid financial footing.
Congressman Boustany grew up as part of a large Arab-American community in Lafayette Louisiana where dinner every Sunday at his grandparents meant family and amazing Lebanese food. It was there, from his grandparents, that he learned where he came from and what it meant to follow the American dream.
He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1982 and returned to Lafayette in 1990 to begin a successful medical practice. For 14 years, he ran a small business and committed to helping others by providing the highest quality health care to his patients and the community. He and his wife Bridget still reside in Lafayette and have two adult children.
Previous awardees include U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham, Casey Kasem, U.A.W. International President Stephen Yokich, U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall, Mosaic Foundation, the National Arab American Medical Association, Helen Thomas, Joseph Haiek, Jamie Farr and Senator Daniel K. Inouye.