[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E646-E647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING FRED HIRT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 1998

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, next week, the Mount Sinai Medical 
Center, one of the leading medical centers in the United States, must 
wave good bye to Fred Hirt, its CEO and the individual responsible for 
many of the Center's most notable achievements. With much appreciation 
and admiration, the residents of the 18th Congressional district wish 
Fred much success as he progresses into the next phase of his 
professional life.
  As CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center, South Florida's only private, 
not-for-profit independent teaching hospital, Fred, who has been twice 
named ``Best Hospital Administrator'' by Medical Business, has achieved 
many notable accomplishments of great benefit to South Florida. The 
many achievements during his tenure include the construction of a 
state-of-the-art Comprehensive Cancer Center, the development of one of 
Dade County's most active cardiac programs, the establishment of the 
Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, and the 
acquisition of the St. Francis-Barry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. 
Moreover, he has also supervised the contribution of an estimated $10 
million each year for the care of South Florida's indigent population.
  A specific example of Fred's vision has been his ability, over a 
decade ago, to identify those forces that would be of great value to 
today's health care industry: outpatient satellite facilities. For over 
a decade, Mount Sinai, with Fred at the helm, set up its first

[[Page E647]]

outpatient satellite facility and has gone on to develop seven more of 
these centers throughout South Florida.
  Fred has also taken his duties beyond Mount Sinai and has dedicated 
his leadership and vision to over 50 local and national organizations. 
His participation in many state and federal legislative issues has been 
critical to the passage of significant legislation.
  We thank Fred for his endless dedication to Miami's health care 
industry and for making Mount Sinai Medical Center, a national, not-
for-profit, independent teaching hospital a force to be reckoned with 
nationally. His efforts will leave a mark on South Florida for many 
years to come and although he will be greatly missed, we wish him the 
best of luck in all of his future endeavors, where he will assuredly 
excel.

                          ____________________