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HCA Healthcare neurosurgeon exemplifies Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others? '” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed each year on the third Monday in January, is designated as a national day of service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King.

Headshot of Dr. Emeka J. Nchekwube
Dr. Emeka J. Nchekwube, Neurosurgeon at HCA Healthcare’s Regional Medical Center

One of Dr. King’s most famous quotes, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” is a true call to action. As one of more than 45,000 physicians across HCA Healthcare, Dr. Emeka J. Nchekwube – a  neurosurgeon at Regional Medical Center in San Jose, California –  lives out that call to action every day by making a positive impact on his community.

In 2022, Dr. Nchekwube was awarded the Frist Humanitarian Award in our organization’s annual HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction ceremony. The award honors individuals within our organization who raise the bar by demonstrating a level of commitment and caring that goes beyond everyday acts of kindness, and who inspire us with their compassion, dedication and spirit.

Dr. Nchekwube has dedicated his life to providing quality, impactful care to the most underserved communities in the Bay Area for more than 40 years. Described as not only a healer, but a comforter and compassionate neighbor. He is widely known for treating patients with Parkinson’s disease and cancer. In addition to his medical expertise, he has successfully helped to develop agricultural pest control systems to help address food insecurities in developing countries.

In the BRAVE Moment below, he shares how he strives to always put patients first.

Thank you Dr. Nchekwube for exemplifying the message of Dr. King and for inspiring us to serve others.

Day of Service

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage community involvement. Whether you choose to serve virtually or in-person to honor Dr. King and his legacy, know that what you do – no matter how big or small – will make an impact in your community and an indelible mark on the future.

Check out the resources below for ways to serve and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. HCA Healthcare colleagues can also visit HCA Healthcare’s giving and volunteering website on our organization’s intranet to find volunteer opportunities.

Find a volunteer opportunity

AmeriCorps – MLK Day

Points of Light – MLK Jr. Day of Service

Take a Virtual Tour

The March: an Interactive Digital Experience

Presented by Time Magazine, this digital exhibit takes viewers on a historical journey offering a deeper understanding of America’s past and renewed reckoning of race.

Explore the Civil Rights Trail

This website allows you to explore the destinations important to the Civil Rights Movement, as well as plan your journey to cities along the trail. Discover the fight for civil rights and make sure the true stories that changed history are never lost.

Virtual Learning Journey: Civil Rights Movement

In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Public Broadcasting produced a standards-based, virtual learning journey that transports viewers to a critical period of time in United States history.

Learn about the Selma-Montgomery Freedom March

The 54-mile historic Selma to Montgomery march was part of a series of civil rights protests that occurred in 1965 in Alabama. The march, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s participation in it, raised awareness of the difficulties faced by Black voters and the need for a national Voting Rights Act.

Google Arts and Culture: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Struggle to March Forward

Presented by Google, a virtual exploration of the Civil Rights Movement is told through captioned videos and photos.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights Virtual Tour

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum and human rights organization in Atlanta that inspires people to tap their own power to change the world around them. The Center’s iconic exhibitions feature the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the history of the US civil rights movement; and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world today

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, is comprised of 183 hospitals and more than 2,300 sites of care, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Our more than 283,000 colleagues are connected by a single purpose — to give patients healthier tomorrows.

As an enterprise, we recognize the significant responsibility we have as a leading healthcare provider within each of the communities we serve, as well as the opportunity we have to improve the lives of the patients for whom we are entrusted to care. Through the compassion, knowledge and skill of our caregivers, and our ability to leverage our scale and innovative capabilities, HCA Healthcare is in a unique position to play a leading role in the transformation of care.

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