[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 116 (Friday, September 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WPS, APA, AND MSDC PRESENT RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF TERROR: HEALING 
                           THE TRAUMA OF 9/11

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 13, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Washington 
Psychiatric Society, the American Psychiatric Association, and the 
Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) for collaborating to 
present ``Resilience in the Face of Terror: Healing the Trauma of 9/
11.'' This conference, of interest to primary care, emergency and 
psychiatric physicians, and other health professionals will be held at 
the new George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on 
Saturday, September 14, 2002.
  Resilience in the Face of Terror has several noteworthy goals and 
objectives: To evaluate our responses to the crisis generated by the 
attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 
2001; increase our knowledge of the medical dimensions of disasters; 
learn about the psychological aspects of religious fanaticism and 
intolerance, and discuss medical, mental health, and public health 
lessons learned and their applications to prevention and healing of 
trauma.
  This conference will be co-chaired by two exceptional individuals, 
Dr. Catherine May and Dr. Eliot Sorel, a close friend of mine. Dr. May 
is the president of the Washington Psychiatric Society (WPS), a 
practicing physician with expertise in women's health, psychiatric and 
emergency medicine, and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry 
and behavioral sciences, George Washington University School of 
Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Sorel is the president of the Medical 
Society of the District of Columbia, a practicing physician with 
expertise in mood disorders and psychiatric disorders related to 
traumatic events, and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral 
sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health 
Sciences. Other notable attendees include Jeffrey Akman, M.D., 
president-elect of WPS; Robert Bonvino, M.D., a leader in the Medical 
Society of the State of New York; Daniel Ein, M.D., chairman of the 
emergency preparedness committee of MSDC: Colonel Jeffrey Elting, M.D., 
Medical Director D.C. Hospitals' Bioterrorism Preparedness; Colonel 
Theodore Nam, M.D., president of the Uniformed Services District Branch 
of the American Psychiatric Association; Jerrold Post, M.D., professor 
of psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and 
political psychology, in the Elliott School of International Affairs, 
George Washington University; Steven Steury, M.D., chief clinical 
officer for the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health; 
Robert Ursano, M.D., chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed 
Services University and Health Sciences.
  All of the aforementioned individuals and all those participating in 
the conference deserve commendation for raising awareness of this issue 
so other health professionals can use the knowledge to help those most 
affected by the tragedy on September 11. I applaud their generosity and 
salute their public service.

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