A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR dR. oSCAR lOVELACE, A FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN IN PROSPERITY, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON RECEIVING THE PIONEER AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.

Whereas, the South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to close the gap in health status and life expectancy between rural and urban communities in the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, with twenty-seven percent of residents in South Carolina living in rural areas, SCORH has been promoting investment, opportunity, and health in rural communities in order to preserve their unique character without compromising their opportunities and access to critical services; and

Whereas, at its twenty-fifth annual conference in October 2022, SCORH honored six healthcare providers and community members who have shown excellence in their work to make communities healthier, either through direct healthcare delivery or efforts to make their communities stronger and more resilient. Each of the honorees received a unique painting of a colorful palmetto tree with a crescent moon, framed with reclaimed wood, by Winnsboro artist Christy Buchanan and commissioned by SCORH; and

Whereas, SCORH confers The Pioneer Award annually to a provider who, during a lengthy career, has contributed significantly to the delivery of primary health care in a rural community; and

Whereas, originally from Columbia, Dr. Lovelace earned a bachelor's degree with honors from Clemson University in 1981, where he served as student body president, and a medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1985; and

Whereas, he served as chief resident at the University of Virginia in family medicine in 1988 and has special medical interests in obstetrics, as well as preventive and agricultural medicine; and

Whereas, in 1988, Dr. Lovelace founded Lovelace Family Medicine, and in 2012, he was selected as the South Carolina Family Physician of the Year by the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and the 2015 Academy of Family Physicians National Physician of the Year. He has served his profession as the chairman of the Governor's Healthcare Taskforce; and

Whereas, together he and his wife, Mary, have reared four children: Ben, Spencer, Erin, and Luke. He enjoys shrimping, swimming, and playing hambone; and

Whereas, Dr. Lovelace has served the Prosperity community for more that three decades with dedicated family-care medicine; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are deeply grateful for the long and steadfast medical care that Oscar Lovelace has provided the Prosperity community and for his contributions to the improved healthcare of our rural citizens. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Oscar Lovelace, a family medicine practice physician in Prosperity, and congratulate him upon receiving The Pioneer Award from the South Carolina Office of Rural Health.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Oscar Lovelace.

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