[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. CLIFFORD SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM NUSSLE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, many people in this chamber are aware of my 
commitment to improving access to health care for rural residents. A 
doctor who practices in my district, Dr. Clifford Smith, was recently 
honored by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) as the NRHA 
Rural Practitioner of the Year. He will officially receive this award 
tomorrow, May 15, 1998.
  Dr. Smith was raised in my district, and I am pleased that he decided 
to remain in a rural area to practice medicine. I am wish to 
congratulate Dr. Smith for this fine achievement. I am honored to 
submit an article from the April 15, 1998 edition of the Monona 
Billboard which describes Dr. Smith's commitment to his patients.
  I am grateful for the many years of service that Dr. Smith has 
provided to my constituents.

           Dr. Smith Named National Rural Health Practitioner

       McGregor physician Dr. Clifford Smith has been selected as 
     the 1998 National Rural Health Care Association Rural 
     Practitioner of the Year. He will receive the award during 
     the NRHA's 21st annual National Conference May 15, at 
     Orlando, Fla.
       Dr. Smith has practiced medicine in northeast Iowa and 
     southwest Wisconsin since coming to McGregor in 1962. He 
     first practiced at the McGregor Hospital. In 1963, he moved 
     his office to 626 Main Street in McGregor and in 1979 the 
     clinic was built. Dr. Smith became affiliated with Gundersen 
     1987. Dr. Smith also comes to the Monona Gundersen clinic.
       Smith was raised in Waterloo and decided as a youngster 
     that the wanted to become a doctor. His plans were 
     temporarily sidelined by World War II when he joined the Army 
     with hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. He was a member of 
     the famous Tuskegee Airmen, the first squadron of black 
     American pilots to be allowed to fight for their country.
       Returning to Iowa he attended the University of Iowa and 
     went to Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn. He worked 
     in New Jersey for four years before starting his practice in 
     McGregor.
       In the nomination sent to the National Rural Health Care 
     Association by Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital and the 
     Smith Gundersen McGregor Clinic staff, several stories are 
     related to Dr. Smith's compassion and bedside manner.
       Until his affiliation with Gundersen, Dr. Smith was known 
     to accept bartering in exchange for care when the patient 
     could not afford to pay.
       He always carries his black bag and continues to make house 
     calls to patients unable to come to the clinic.
       Jean Bacon, RNC of Monona, has worked with Dr. Smith since 
     his first day in McGregor. Today as Memorial Hospital's 
     Emergency Department Clinical Coordinator, she still works 
     with him. She says ``Dr. Smith has been my family physician 
     since he moved to this area. My family dearly loves him as do 
     all of his patients. When my children were young they spoke 
     of him as being really cool.'' She adds, ``He is respected 
     for his knowledge, but even more so for his compassion, 
     caring and leadership as a role model.''
       Ellen Nierling, RNC, education director at Memorial 
     Hospital, recalled a particularly busy night at the hospital 
     working with Dr. Smith that left them both wondering at their 
     career choices, but the following day Dr. Smith said, ``It 
     feels great when you know you make a difference in a 
     patient's life.''
       Marilu Benz MD, Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff at 
     Memorial Hospital, states, ``Dr. Smith is always willing to 
     lend encouragement to hospital staff, and has a talent for 
     bringing out the best in all of us. Our lives are truly 
     enriched by his fine examples of devotion, compassion and 
     dedication.''
       Dr. Smith is looking forward to the trip to Orlando. He 
     says he has never been any place like it and, it should be 
     fun.
       His patients are proud of his national recognition, but 
     they are even happier that even at 72, he is still there when 
     they need him.

     

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