[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2212-E2213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LATE DR. ANDRE ANTHONY GALIBER, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA MC CHRISTENSEN

                           of virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Dr. Andre 
Anthony Galiber, Sr., who passed away in September of this year. Dr. 
Galiber was a great leader in the medical profession, particularly in 
the field of Radiology, an ideal family man, an outstanding citizen and 
a great humanitarian in my district, the community of St. Croix and the 
entire U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Dr. Galiber earned his Medical Doctorate in 1957 and completed a 
diagnostic and therapeutic radiology residency in 1963. His distinctive 
medical career began with an internship at the Howard University's 
Freedmen's Hospital, here in Washington, D.C. He also served as a 
captain in the U.S. Medical Corps and was the Chief Radiologist at Fort 
Benjamin Harrison Army Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  Dr. Galiber opened his private Radiology office in 1967 and became 
the first full-time, board certified Radiologist, in the Virgin 
Islands. He was and remained the only regional Fellow of the American 
College of Radiology. Dr. Galiber became the Director of the Radiology 
Department at the Charles Harwood Hospital during the 1960's and 
1970's, and became the Director of the Radiology Department when the 
hospital relocated to the new Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and 
Medical Center, serving in that capacity until his ``so-called'' 
retirement in 1984.
  Dr. Galiber volunteered as a consultant at the new St. Croix Hospital 
and provided most of the technical training and professional services 
during the initial ten year growth period of clinical ultrasound. He 
performed and interpreted the first echocardiograms on St. Croix and 
was the first Radiologist licensed in Computer Tomography. He was a FDA 
accredited mammoradiologist and had been performing mammography since 
he opened his practice in 1964. His untiring dedication to St. Croix 
was also directed at strengthening and advocating on behalf of the 
medical community. He was an active member of the Virgin Islands 
Medical Society for almost forty years, serving as President, Executive 
Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate to the American Medical Association, as 
well as Delegate to the National Medical Association.
  Dr. Galiber also served as President of the St. Croix Hospital 
Medical staff, was an elected officer of the Virgin Islands Medical 
Institute and presented, coordinated and monitored medical education 
seminars for his peers. He was also the principal supporter of advanced 
diagnostic imaging capabilities at the Governor Juan Luis Hospital. 
Recently, he proposed and drafted legislation for the Virgin Islands 
Medical Institute, to encourage Virgin Islands physicians training in 
the continental United States, to become licensed in the Territory. 
Most notably, he was a mentor and ardent supporter of students pursuing 
health science careers, of which I was one.
  Hurricane Hugo introduced several generations of Virgin Islanders to 
the devastation a hurricane could inflict. While most of the populace 
remained stunned in the aftermath, Dr. Galiber salvaged his 
radiological equipment, established electrical power and a safe habitat 
for essential medical operations and nine days after the hurricane had 
passed, he started providing full services to his patients. Dr. Galiber 
was a charter member of the St. Croix Power Squadron. He became a 
trustee for most of the schools on the island of St. Croix including 
St. Mary's Catholic School, Country Day School, Good Hope School and 
St. Dunstan's Episcopal School. Dr. Galiber was chairperson of the St. 
Croix Hospital Continuing Medical Education Committee which locally 
certified all eligible post-graduate training programs for physicians, 
and a member of the Eta lota lota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
  As an entrepreneur, Dr. Galiber in 1974 became the Project 
Development Coordinator/Secretary/Treasurer, of the first Medical 
Office Condominium in the Virgin Islands. He was one of seven owners of 
Medical offices in Island Medical Center Associates, and supervised the 
management of the
  Dr. Galiber was an avid reader of non-fiction and a World War II 
history buff, greatly admiring the deeds of Winston Churchill. For 
recreation he enjoyed golf, tennis, traveling, dancing, and classical 
music. He and his wife, Edith, were Members of Friends of Denmark,

[[Page E2213]]

an organization that strives to maintain the links established by more 
than two centuries of former Danish rule. He and his wife also joined 
the Landmark Society, which preserves and promotes the various 
influences of our unique architecture that has developed over the 
centuries, and our local cultural traditions. He was also a member of 
the Virgin Islands Lung Association and the St. George's Botanical 
Garden.
  Dr. and Mrs. Galiber collected many local artists' paintings. Some 
works they commissioned were the product of intense collaborations 
between Dr. Galiber, Sr., and the artists. He insisted that the images 
synthesized on canvas authentically portray our past. Leo Carty's 
``Good Day Ladies'' acrylic, with the significant conceptual influences 
of Dr. Galiber, was selected by the United States Census Bureau as the 
poster representing minority art for the U.S. Virgin Islands. This was 
a work-in-progress when the Galibers became enamored with its 
historical vista and gave it the unofficial title, ``Mr. Collins''. Dr. 
Galiber's suggestions influenced Mr. Carty to change and/or include a 
few features so the painting would more accurately reflect the people 
and events of the time. Dr. Galiber was the recipient of many honors. 
He was the Virgin Islands Medical Society's Distinguished Physician in 
1986 and an American Cancer Society's Honoree in 1999.
  On June 9th of this year, the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and 
Medical Center conducted a dedication ceremony of the Andre A. Galiber, 
Sr., FACR, Radiology and Cardiovascular Laboratory Suite. The unit was 
dedicated in honor of his significant contributions to diagnostic 
imaging. Some of his peers recognized that he single-handedly 
established the Radiology Departments at the Charles Harwood and Juan 
Luis Hospitals and that due to him, the hospitals will soon have MRI 
capabilities. His legendary diagnostic skills were praised and 
appreciation was shown for the tireless work he performed in other 
hospital areas.
  Dr. Galiber, Sr., encouraged his children to follow in his footsteps 
of educational and professional excellence. His oldest child, Lorraine 
Gundel, served for years as a Virgin Islands educator. His sons have 
taken up the mantle of his commitment to providing the best in medical 
services to the Virgin Islands community. He and his namesake and 
fellow radiologist, Andre Jr., excelled at golf and were the winners of 
several tournaments. Son, Angelo, like Andre Jr., is a board-certified 
radiologist. Angelo is president of Imaging Center, PC, a position that 
Andre Sr., previously held. Angelo is the 1983 Franklin Chambers McLean 
Scholar (given each year to the highest ranking U.S. minority medical 
student). Dante is a board certified fellow of the American College of 
Cardiology. The youngest son, Marcel is a Registered Diagnostic Medical 
Sonographer/Vascular Technologist and the business manager of the 
Imaging Center. His daughter Lisa has modeled internationally and has 
worked in broadcasting. Youngest daughter, Cecile, was a bank senior 
vice-president. She now heads the Financial Trust Company in St. Thomas 
and is a licensed realtor.
  His wife of forty-four years, Edith Lewis Galiber, is a retired 
Director of Public Health Nursing in St. Croix. She has been his loving 
and devoted partner in all that he has achieved and in building the 
legacy which he leaves.
  Dr. Andre Galiber's death on September 24, 2000, ended an illustrious 
life and work, but the contributions to his community, its culture and 
the field of Radiology live on.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute Dr. Andre A. Galiber for his dedicated service 
to his country, his profession and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. I thank his wife Edith, their six children and sixteen 
grandchildren, for sharing him with us.

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