Nicole Aqui, MD, Chief of Transfusion and Apheresis Services and Assistant Professor in the Department, was honored as a 2016 Philadelphia Living Legend by the City Council of Philadelphia. The City Council resolution recognizes outstanding contributions to community and society by Philadelphia’s African American dentists or physicians. Dr. Aqui was cited as a pathology specialist with more than fifteen years of diverse experiences and practicing expertise in Philadelphia.

In the words of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., who presented the Council resolution, the "living legend" awards "point out unsung heroes that from time to time get overlooked but make huge differences in our society as a whole and in African American communities in particular." Dr. Aqui is part of a group of physicians to be honored and celebrated for the "preservation of life, limb, health, healing" and "their contributions to health and happiness of the common people" in commemoration of Black History Month by the City Council, the legislative arm of the Philadelphia municipal government.

Dr. Aqui received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed her residency and fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before joining the Department as a faculty member in 2006.