[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1206-E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF DR. ALFRED O. HEATH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a true 
renaissance man of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Alfred O. Heath. Mr. 
Speaker, Dr. Heath is being honored this weekend in St. Thomas with the 
Alexander A. Farrelly Public Service Award, given by Virgin Islanders 
for Responsible Government, an honor of which he is more than 
deserving.
  A fellow physician, Dr. Heath is also renowned in the territory as a 
businessman, educator, health care administrator, musician and licensed 
pilot. Dr. Heath is most recognized for performing one of the 
territory's earliest heart surgeries, and for restoring the operable 
use of a patient's severed arm. In addition to the many ``medical 
miracles'' that he performed, Dr. Heath served as the Attending Senior 
Surgeon at the Roy Schneider Hospital and as a General Surgeon at the 
U.S. Army Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Heath has also served as the Medical Director of Sea 
View Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility, as Commissioner of Health of 
the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Professor of Surgery at 
American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten, West Indies.
  His business pursuits include the founding of the Seaview facility, 
Heath Health Enterprises, the Medical Arts Complex of St. Thomas, 
Medical Arts Slender You Salon, and St. Thomas Health Care Management, 
Inc.
  An all around gentleman, Dr. Heath's voice can be heard in local 
chorales and choirs, and entertaining a spellbound audience with his 
violin. He is also an adept pilot, and an avid boater.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Heath has been toasted by the Rotary International 
as the Man of the Year, the Paul Harris Fellow, and the Costas 
Coulianos Fellow. The Business and Professional Women, the Virgin 
Islands Toastmasters, the National Guard, the Virgin Islands Medical 
Society and the American Cancer Society have all at various times noted 
his talents and his willingness to share them with his community.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Alfred O. Heath was born and raised in St. Thomas to 
Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Heath. Upon graduation from Charlotte Amalie High 
School in 1947, he attended the University of Puerto Rico's School of 
Pharmacy for two years from 1947 to 1949. He later graduated from 
Temple University's School of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science 
degree in 1953. He received a Medical Degree from Jefferson Medical 
College followed by a surgical residency, which focused on general, 
thoracic and cardiovascular surgery between 1953 and 1960. He also 
attended the University of Heidelberg from 1962 to 1963.
  Married to Geraldine Cheatham, they are the parents of one son, 
Alfred, Jr., and two daughters, Anita and Judy.
  Dr. Heath's military career culminated with 50 years of service to 
the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard at the rank of Brigadier 
General.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of serving under this 
outstanding individual in

[[Page E1207]]

good times and bad. I will never forget his strength, endurance and 
leadership during the evacuation of the St. Croix Hospital after 
Hurricane Hugo. That experience and the emergency delivery that he 
performed during the crisis demonstrated the measure of this great man.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands are 
grateful to Dr. Heath for his many years of dedicated service to our 
islands. His selfless example of excellence, foresight and commitment 
is one that we hope will be emulated by our young people.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in 
honoring a man so deserving as Dr. Heath.

                          ____________________