Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                                A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

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                    IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                      June 6, 2023

To recognize and honor Sharon R. Lewis, DHA, RN-BC, CPM for her outstanding service to the

       District of Columbia Government and the residents of the District of Columbia.

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis was born and raised in Washington, DC;

      WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from

Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis received a Certificate in Health Services, a Master of

Science in Administration, and a Doctorate in Health Care Administration from Central

Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis is a Certified Public Manager, a designation obtained from

the George Washington University, Center for Excellence in Municipal Management, Cohort III;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis has completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy

School of Government Executive Program on Strategic Management of Regulatory and

Enforcement Agencies;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis began her District of Columbia Government career on

April 28, 1986, at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs as a nurse consultant,

surveying health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical centers,

intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and DC Correctional in

and outpatient health units;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis started her career at DC Health as the Team Leader of the

Long Term Care Team; then became a Supervisory Nurse Consultant; then became Program

Manager of the Health Care Facilities Division; and, in 2015, became the first nurse to become

Interim Senior Deputy Director and then appointed as Senior Deputy Director of the Health

Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA);

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                                                                         ENROLLED ORIGINAL

        WHEREAS, as the Senior Deputy Director of HRLA, Sharon R. Lewis oversaw the

administration of 19 professional boards, 72 health professions, food safety for more than 6,500

establishments, rodent and vector control, animal services, pharmaceutical control, radiation

protection, health care facilities, clinical laboratories, intermediate care facilities, criminal

background checks for health professionals, and compliance, investigations, and surveys for the

licensing and certification of facilities;

        WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis became the Interim Director of DC Health on July 29,

2022, the first nurse to hold this designation. In this role, she continued to work in support of

health, wellness, and equity for the District’s residents and visitors;

       WHEREAS, as Interim Director of DC Health, Sharon R. Lewis led DC Health’s

response to 2 different virus outbreaks: the Omicron BA.5 variant of COVID-19 as well as mpox

in 2022, and led the agency during the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis held the agency to the highest standards of reliance on

accurate health care data and information to be utilized by DC Health and the government;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis assured health care services were delivered in accordance

with the highest standards;

     WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis provided compassionate leadership and valuable advice to

DC Health employees;

        WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis helped develop regulations and standards of quality health

care practices to advance the best care for the District’s residents and visitors;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis advanced a management style, motivation, and sensibilities

that DC Health professionals throughout the agency have been proud to adopt;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis has received several awards, including the DC Health

Director’s Special Award for Employee Excellence; a Certificate of Appreciation from the

Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies; the Department of Health Director’s Award; the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Finance Administration Region III,

Surveyor of the Year; Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Director’s Award; U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Finance Administration Region III,

Surveyor of the Year; and D.C. Service Facility Regulation Administration Surveyor of the Year;

      WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Incorporated,

Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter;

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                                                                     ENROLLED ORIGINAL

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis is an active member at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Roman

Catholic Church, the home of her elementary education in the District of Columbia;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis has a love for quilting;

       WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis is the proud mother of Brandon H. Lewis; and

        WHEREAS, Sharon R. Lewis is recognized for her distinguished and respected public

service to the District of Columbia.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “Sharon R. Lewis Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2023.”

        Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors Sharon R. Lewis

for her untiring dedication to the citizens of the District of Columbia and to the Government of

the District of Columbia.

Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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