[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF DR. RUSSELL L. TRAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ERNIE FLETCHER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 1999

  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call to the attention of my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives the distinguished career of 
Russell L. Travis, MD, a neurological surgeon from Lexington, Kentucky, 
and a good friend. After a lifetime commitment of service to his 
patients, his profession, his community, and to the people of the 
Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is fitting that Dr. Travis be recognized 
by this body as he completes his term as president of the American 
Association of Neurological Surgeons.
  Born in Jenkins, Kentucky, a small Appalachian community, Dr. Travis 
attended Centre College in Danville, and received his medical degree 
from the University of Louisville. Following his residency at the 
Medical College Hospital of South Carolina, Dr. Travis returned to 
Lexington to begin his practice as a neurological surgeon.
  One of Dr. Travis' most outstanding contributions has been his 
commitment to ensuring that all Kentucky citizens have access to 
affordable, quality health care. As both an advocate for change at a 
legislative level and as a volunteer in the field, his efforts are 
widely known and appreciated. Almost every week for the past 25 years, 
Dr. Travis has traveled hundreds of miles to see patients in places 
where you wouldn't normally find a neurosurgeon--towns like Whitesburg 
or Hazard, Kentucky, where adequate medical attention is in short 
supply. What's more, he enlisted others in service to his vision, 
playing a key role in the formation of Kentucky Physicians Care, a 
group of physicians who volunteer their services to provide free 
medical care to the less fortunate in their communities. This national 
recognized program was the first all-volunteer, nongovernment-sponsored 
statewide program of its kind in the country. To ensure its success, 
Dr. Travis traveled to every part of the State at his own expense, 
encouraging his colleagues to participate. And what a success it has 
been--since 1985 more than 300,000 Kentucky citizens have received 
needed medical attention from Dr. Travis' physician volunteers.
  Dr. Travis' insight, experience, and hard work while serving on 
Kentucky's Task Force on Health Care Access and Affordability proved 
invaluable in achieving our goals of reforming health care in Kentucky, 
attempting to undo the damage well-intentioned but ill-considered 
government intervention had done. The Commonwealth owes much to Dr. 
Travis for his efforts on this task force.
  Dr. Travis has given much back to his profession as well. His 
tireless involvement in State and national professional societies has 
improved the standards of medical care. Dr. Travis' colleagues have 
recognized these contributions with numerous awards, including the 
Congress of Neurological Surgeons' Distinguished Service Award, the 
Kentucky Medical Association's Service to Mankind Award, the Fayette 
County Medical Society's Jack Trevey Award for his leadership role in 
the Kentucky Physician Care Program, and the Physician's Recognition 
Award.
  On behalf of my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives, I congratulate and commend Dr. Russell Travis on his 
exemplary service for not only the people of Kentucky, but for his 
contributions to the field of neurological surgery, from which the 
entire Nation benefits.

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