[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 98 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES B. POST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 1997

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay honor to a courageous 
young man from my district who persevered to overcome extraordinary 
circumstances in order to obtain his dream. Dr. James B. Post, a 
quadriplegic since age 14, recently received his medical degree from 
the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
  At age 14, a diving accident at a Boy Scout camp left Jim Post 
paralyzed from the neck down. He cannot move his legs and has only 
partial use of his arms, yet Jim went on to become an Eagle Scout and 
later attended King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. At King's, Jim 
studied premed and finished in the top 10 percent of his class.
  I have known this young man and his family for many years, and I can 
attest to the strength of character he demonstrated during his 
extraordinary struggle not just to survive, but to excel. With the 
constant love and support of his family, Jim Post rose to meet 
challenges most teenagers without disabilities never face.
  Mr. Speaker, while these accomplishments alone deserve praise, Jim 
continued to pursue his dream and applied to 10 medical schools. Each 
of the 10 schools refused him admission because of his disability. 
However, he did not give up, fighting on television and in the press, 
his story gained State and national attention and soon found many 
supporters. His battle for admission led to a State Senate 
investigation and a 1993 law barring Pennsylvania colleges from 
discriminating on the basis of disability.
  After speaking with faculty at the Albert Einstein College of 
Medicine, Jim applied and was accepted on the condition he hire a 
physician's assistant to help examine patients. Along with this help 
and with his wife Saretha and son James by his side, Jim began the 
rigors of medical school undaunted.
  Mr. Speaker, Jim Post, not only graduated from medical school, he was 
admitted to an honor society Alpha Omega Alpha which only admits 
students in the top 15 percent of the class who possess proper attitude 
and professionalism toward patients.
  Currently, Jim is preparing to begin his internship at Lenox Hill 
Hospital in New York. He plans to specialize in either nephrology or 
endocrinology.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. James B. Post is a living testament to the triumph 
of the human spirit. It is with great pride and admiration that I bring 
the remarkable accomplishments of this courageous young man to the 
attention of my colleagues and add my best wishes for his continued 
success.




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