Dr. Francisca Velcek Receives Diversity and Inclusion Award from the American Pediatric Surgical Association

By Office of Communications & Marketing | May 16, 2022

Congratulations to Pediatric Surgery chief and professor Francisca Velcek, M.D., FACS, FAAP, who received the 2022 James F. Densler Award from the American Pediatric Surgical Association.

The James F. Densler award acknowledges an individual with a consistent track record of promoting pediatric surgery diversity, equity, and inclusivity, delivering care to diverse populations, working in diverse teams, and promoting diversity and inclusivity in the pediatric surgery professional community. The award is named after the first African American pediatric surgeon to practice in the USA (1969), the first African American to be accepted into the Surgical Section of the American Academy of the Pediatrics (1971), and the second African American to be certified in Pediatric Surgery (1976).

Dr. Velcek received her medical degree in the Philippines in 1966 before moving to the United States to launch her medical career. She completed a general surgical residency at St. Clare’s Hospital Medical Center in New York City in 1971. Subsequently, she completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at then-Downstate Medical Center / Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.

She practiced as a private citizen and as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corp from 1987 to 1998. For her service during Operation Desert Storm, she received a Distinguished Service Medal from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Most recently, Dr. Velcek was inducted into the American College of Surgeons’ Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, an elite group of master surgeons whose mission is to advance the science and practice of avant-garde surgical education and training. Dr. Velcek is now one of only 223 surgeons in the nation to receive this honor.

Dr. Velcek is board certified in general surgery, with special certification in Pediatric Surgery and critical surgical care. She has published over 47 scientific articles in national and international peer-review journals and delivered over 160 invited lectureships in national and international meetings.