[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ON RETIREMENT OF DR. JAMES W. HOLSINGER, CHANCELLOR OF ALBERT B. 
                        CHANDLER MEDICAL CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ERNIE FLETCHER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr., Chancellor of 
the Albert B. Chandler Medical Center at the University of Kentucky 
will be retiring this month and I want to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to this exceptional physician. Dr. Holsinger is a distinguished 
member of his community and the proud father of four daughters and the 
grandfather of three boys. He has had an extensive academic and 
administrative career.
  Dr. Holsinger began his academic career at Duke University, receiving 
a B.A. from that undergraduate institution in 1960 and an M.D. from its 
medical school in 1964. He then completed a surgical internship, 
residency in general surgery, and fellowship in thoracic surgery and 
anatomy at Duke. In 1968, Dr. Holsinger was awarded a Ph.D from Duke 
University with a major in anatomy and a minor in physiology. He then 
completed a residency in general surgery and a fellowship in cardiology 
at the Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida. Dr. 
Holsinger continued his education in administration, attaining a 
master's degree in Hospital Financial Management from the University of 
South Carolina in 1981 and a B.A. in Human Studies from the University 
of Kentucky in 1997.
  In 1972, Dr. Holsinger was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine 
at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 1974, he was appointed 
Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut and 
was promoted to Associate Professor in 1976. Dr. Holsinger moved once 
again in 1978 to the University of Georgia, where he was appointed 
Professor of Medicine and Anatomy and served as Assistant Dean in the 
College of Medicine. In 1981, Dr. Holsinger was appointed Professor of 
Medicine and Health Care Administration at the Medical College of 
Virginia, where he was also appointed Assistant Vice President for 
Health Sciences in 1985.
  Dr. Holsinger retired from the United States Army Reserve in 1993, 
after serving over 31 years. While part of the Army Reserve, Dr. 
Holsinger was assigned to the Joint Staff as Assistant to the Director 
for Logistics in 1989 and promoted to Major General in 1990. Dr. 
Holsinger served in the Department of Veterans Affairs for 26 years, 
beginning in 1968. The culmination of his career was his appointment by 
the President of the United States as Chief Medical Director of the 
Veterans Health Administration in 1990. During his appointment, Dr. 
Holsinger became Undersecretary for Health and was reassigned as the 
Director of the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1993.
  Upon his retirement from his position as Chief Medical Director in 
1994, Dr. Holsinger was awarded the position as Chancellor of the 
Albert B. Chandler Medical Center at the University of Kentucky, where 
he was also the Chief Academic Officer. As Chancellor, Dr. Holsinger 
was responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating the 
operations of the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Allied 
Health, Pharmacy, the School of Public Health, four graduate centers, 
the University Hospital, the Children's Hospital, and the Kentucky 
Clinic.
  He also provided overall guidance and direction for the academic 
programs of the Medical Center. Dr. Holsinger helped create the 
Holsinger Professorship in Anatomy in 1998, to which he and his wife, 
Barbara, donated $65,000 this year.
  Dr. Holsinger has set a positive example for future physicians by 
providing quality care to his patients and service to his community. 
His achievements and recognitions speak for themselves. May God bless 
Jim and his wife Barbara. I wish them every happiness and success.

                          ____________________