[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEDICATED TO PROVIDING QUALITY HEALTH CARE--A TRIBUTE TO BETTY JEAN 
                                  KERR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Betty Jean 
Kerr, as 2003 marks her 25th year of service as C.E.O. of People's 
Health Centers (PHC) in St. Louis. Kerr has been passionately devoted 
to providing quality health care to the medically underserved and 
uninsured. Strongly believing that everyone deserves quality health 
care, Kerr has dedicated her tenure with PHC to ensuring that primary 
care and prevention services are efficiently provided at these 
community health centers, regardless of a patient's socioeconomic 
status.
  Kerr's extraordinary leadership is exemplified by the strong 
foundation she has laid and the recognized growth within PHC. PHC was a 
three-year-old free clinic with only one location when Kerr became CEO. 
Under her guidance, she has been essentially instrumental in making PHC 
a sprawling community of apartments for the elderly, housing for 
persons with disabilities, social security services, primary health 
care, dental services, a pharmacy, affordable homes, and small 
businesses.
  Kerr has been remarkably persistent in reaching beyond traditional 
methods of making quality health care services accessible to everyone. 
In an effort to provide increased access to health in conjunction with 
health center locations, she has created school-based sites. Her staff 
is in all St. Louis Public middle schools, three high schools, private 
schools, and soon to be in the large school districts in North County.
  In addition to developing sustained partnerships with patients to 
manage improving their health, Kerr has maintained and required a high 
level of expectations for health care practitioners serving minority 
populations in low-income neighborhoods throughout St. Louis. Setting 
high standards and goals for PHC, she continues to work with the board 
on strategic planning decisions that will reduce health disparities 
within St. Louis.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great privilege that I recognize Betty Jean 
Kerr today before Congress. This dynamic woman strongly believes that 
every citizen has the right to a long and healthy life. In addition to 
her steadfast commitment to guaranteeing accessible primary care and 
preventative health care services, Kerr has a vision of expanding the 
number of health care center locations throughout the St. Louis 
community. It is with great honor that I ask my colleagues to join me 
in honoring Betty Jean Kerr.

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