[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 47 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E523-E524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNITION OF DR. JOHN ``BOB'' MAZERO

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 1996

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, it is a rare thing these days to find 
someone like Dr. Bob Mazero. He reminds us of the kind of doctor our 
parents used to call at his home and ask to come over on a Saturday 
night if one of the kids had a fever. In a small community like 
Latrobe, PA, being on call is not something that you schedule. It is 
getting called away from your family's Fourth of July picnic because a 
boy on the other side of town got too close to a bottle rocket, or 
pulled away from Thanksgiving dinner because one of your patients had a 
bad fall and you're the only one she trusts to examine her. For over 30 
years, Dr. Mazero has been that type of doctor, one that everyone in 
town has seen at some time or other in their lives, and he always 
remembers their names, and usually remembers to ask how their father is 
doing or how their daughter is getting along in college. He's one of 
the most depended on, faithful, trusted members of the community. In 
times of crisis, he often is the one a whole family looks to for 
reassurance, and he has to provide that the best way he can. He is a 
true community leader, and we could use many more like him.
  Dr. Mazero did not have to return to his little hometown to practice 
medicine. He could have stayed in Washington, or Cleveland, or 
Pittsburgh, where he studied, or gone to some other big city with 
opportunities for a bright young doctor.
  But he came back to the town where he grew up and devoted his life, 
not only to making sure Latrobe had one of the best community hospitals 
in the country, but to advance the role of a community hospital in 
creating an educational environment for other physicians as well. He 
was not content to be just one of the doctors who made his rounds and 
went home. He cared about teaching other young doctors, and about 
connecting the community to its medical centers and to its source of 
health care. That is why, as director of Latrobe Area Hospital, he has 
worked to create partnerships between the hospital and several regional 
colleges, medical schools, as well as other area medical centers. For 
his outstanding achievements in these areas, he has earned numerous 
civic and academic honors throughout his career.

[[Page E524]]

  As we debate health care reforms in Washington, we have to always 
remember that the medical personnel are at the heart of any system, and 
that no matter what we do to health care, it's only going to be as good 
as those individuals providing it. It is because of these professionals 
that America has the best health care system in the world. And against 
that measure, it is why we are all so glad to join in recognizing Bob 
Mazero as Latrobe's Italian American of the Year.

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