[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DR. MARION BERGMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mr. ISRAEL. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Marion Bergman, a 
pulmonologist and an attending physician at Brookhaven Memorial 
Hospital, and recipient of the hospital's 2004 Dr. Jacob Dranitzke 
Award.
  Dr. Bergman was born in South Africa while the oppressive doctrine of 
apartheid was still in place. During her childhood she witnessed 
countless acts of racism and discrimination, acts that had a profound 
impact on her. While still young, Dr. Bergman began what would become a 
lifelong commitment to service when she began working in the severely 
poor area of South Africa called Soweto. The training she received 
there has affected her life's work in numerous ways--including a 
passion for an equitable heath care system.
  Dr. Bergman is now a highly esteemed pulmonologist and attending 
physician at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital where she has served with 
great distinction for over two decades. During her tenure, Dr. Bergman 
has served as Medical Director of Respiratory Care Services and, for a 
period, as president of the hospital. Dr. Bergman provides essential 
mentoring services to medical students, who she invariably instills 
with her dedication to excellence and giving. While carrying out this 
challenging career, Dr. Bergman has simultaneously worked towards a 
master's degree in public health from the Wagner School at New York 
University, raised two wonderful sons and contributed extensively to 
her community.
  Specifically, Dr. Bergman serves as a member of the Board of 
Directors of the Medical Education for the South African Blacks charity 
therefore maintaining a strong link to her past. This nonprofit group 
is a fundraising organization that provides South Africans with a 
chance at higher-level education. Furthermore, Dr. Bergman is an active 
member of the International Women's Health coalition and recently 
traveled to Nigeria as part of this coalition. Finally, Dr. Bergman 
serves on the Executive Committee of the Long Island Chapter of the 
American Jewish Committee.
  Dr. Bergman is being awarded the prestigious Dr. Jacob Dranitzke 
Award. Dr. Dranitzke was a child immigrant from Russia who went on to 
become a committed doctor on Long Island and served the Patchogue 
community with great distinction. Dr. Dranitzke was a founding member 
of the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and served as the hospital's first 
chief of surgery.
  Dr. Bergman has followed in the footsteps of Dr. Dranitzke with her 
unparalleled level of service to peers, to Brookhaven Memorial 
Hospital, and to her community. I wholeheartedly congratulate her on 
her remarkable achievements among which she can now include the 
presentation of this award, an award that could not be given to a more 
deserving person. Dr. Bergman is a leader in our community and in every 
community she enters.

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