[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  IN HONOR OF DR. HERBERT EDWARD POCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in this day of managed care and health 
maintenance organizations, it is easy to lose sight of the dedicated 
individuals in the medical profession who have devoted their lives to 
the care of others.
  Tomorrow night, the staff at Monmouth Medical Center will honor just 
such an individual. Dr. Herbert Edward Poch will be retiring as 
director of Newborn Nursery at the hospital. His departure means the 
loss to Monmouth Center of a deeply-caring, personally-involved and 
highly-skilled pediatrician.
  To the nurses on staff, Dr. Poch is ``a grandfatherly figure who 
watches over us like a hawk and is never too busy to buy us lunch.'' on 
a daily basis, he provides the extra touches that turn a building of 
stone and glass and antiseptics into a congenial work place for staff, 
and a wonderful, state-of-the-art welcome center for new babies and 
their parents. Dr. Poch's professional expertise combined with his warm 
and engaging manner have made those first fragile days of life and 
parenthood easier and safer for thousands of families.
  In addition to being an outstanding physician and administrator, Dr. 
Poch is a teacher of medical students and physician assistant students 
in the nursery and the outpatient departments. He has shared his 
knowledge with others in many lectures and symposiums. By virtue of 
serving as the model for the Monmouth Medical Center Advertising 
Campaign and being featured on billboards, bus posters and print ads, 
Dr. Poch is a familiar figure and symbol of the many find medical 
practitioners throughout Central Jersey.
  Dr. Poch earned his bachelor's degree from Columbia College--where he 
was captain of the Varsity Basketball Team--and his medical degree from 
the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He interned 
at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., and completed his residency 
at Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
  He was the medical director and original founder of the Make-A-Wish 
Foundation of New Jersey in the early eighties and was honorary trustee 
of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch from 1992 to 1998. 
Throughout his career, he has been very active in many community, 
athletic and public service endeavors.
  To my friend and neighbor, Dr. Poch, I say congratulations on an 
outstanding career in medicine and a well-deserved reputation as a man 
of great character and compassion.

                          ____________________