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Reflecting on the legacy of Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and CDC Foundation board member

Reflecting on the legacy of Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and CDC Foundation board member

By Judy Monroe, MD

One of the first things I did after being selected by the CDC Foundation Board of Directors as President and CEO in 2016 was to meet with each board member individually.

Dikembe Mutombo joined the CDC Foundation board in fall 2014. We arranged to meet for lunch at a restaurant in a suburb of Atlanta. It was quite an introduction to my new job when I had a private lunch with a world-renowned and beloved NBA star.

I remember when we sat down the table seemed way too small and we were interrupted a few times by people walking by who recognized him and wanted to say hello. His warmth and laughter were captivating as he told me about his beloved family. He said he dreamed of becoming a doctor until his path led him to professional basketball.

He also told me about the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which he founded in 1997 and which focuses on improving health, education and quality of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo and across Africa. I was impressed when he talked about the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, named after his late mother. Built in 2007, the hospital has treated hundreds of thousands of patients, providing access to medical care in a region where there is a severe healthcare shortage. The hospital has saved so many lives and has been a beacon of hope for many Congolese.

In the years following our lunch, I had the privilege of introducing Dikembe to new CDC directors and enlisting his help in global health emergencies, such as one of the many Ebola outbreaks. His advocacy for vaccinations and other public health measures has been crucial in regions experiencing devastating diseases and where health infrastructure is fragile.

One of my fondest memories of Dikembe was the day he came to our office to film a short video for the launch of the CDC Foundation’s new branding in 2017 with his famous finger wag. Here is the link. Despite being incredibly busy, Dikembe generously gave his time and helped our team generate awareness and interest in the Foundation’s new branding – we all had a lot of fun doing it.

For his foundation, Dikembe and his team hosted an annual gala to raise funds to support their life-saving work. I attended several of these events with colleagues from the CDC Foundation. It was moving to watch him in action as a philanthropist and humanitarian who poured his heart and soul into raising support to improve the health – and lives – of others.

As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in his announcement of Dikembe’s death: “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history. Even off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

By leveraging his resources and influence, Dikembe addressed critical social and health issues and leaves behind a plan that highlights the enormous potential of celebrities and public figures – and indeed each of us – to be agents of change. His authenticity and practical approach made him a credible voice in the global humanitarian sector. Not only did he have 3,289 career blocks in his NBA career, he also leaves us the building blocks to balance the power of fame with a purpose beyond himself.

As we pause to mourn the passing of Dikembe Mutombo, we also celebrate the legacy he left for all of us to have a positive and lasting impact on our world.

Judy Monroe, MD, is president and CEO of the CDC Foundation.

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