[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1840-E1841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ACKNOWLEDGING EUGENE P. SINCLAIR, M.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2005

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge one of my 
constituents, Eugene P. Sinclair, M.D., as he completes his term as 
President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, a 100 year old 
national professional organization currently representing over 39,000 
anesthesiologists.
  Founded in 1905, ASA is the predominant professional organization 
representing medically trained anesthesiologists. Since its founding, 
ASA has been the leader in the development of patient safety standards 
and guidelines for the delivery of safe patient care before, during and 
after surgery. The ASA's efforts on behalf of the specialty have been 
acknowledged by both the medical and lay press alike. Both The 
Institute of Medicine (IOM), in

[[Page E1841]]

its 1999 report on medical errors, and the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), in its report on 
improving the medical liability system and preventing patient injury, 
recognized the successes of organized anesthesiology in improving 
patient outcomes. In June, the Wall Street Journal, in a front page 
article, reported on the unique role ASA and anesthesiologists have 
played in addressing patient safety in the delivery of anesthesia and 
in reducing their liability costs, holding up anesthesiologists as a 
model for other specialties to follow.
  Dr. Sinclair received his medical degree from Marquette University 
School of Medicine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After medical school, he 
served in the U.S. Army's distinguished 101st Airborne Division in Ft. 
Campbell, Kentucky for 3 years. Following his military service, Dr. 
Sinclair completed his anesthesiology residency at the Milwaukee County 
General Hospital and the VA Hospital in Wood, Wisconsin.
  Dr. Sinclair is currently Chief, Anesthesia Service at the Orthopedic 
Hospital of Wisconsin. He has been active in the Wisconsin Society of 
Anesthesiologists, the Milwaukee Society of Anesthesiologists and the 
State Medical Society of Wisconsin and Milwaukee Country Medical 
Society.
  For ASA, Dr. Sinclair has served as president-elect, first vice 
president, speaker of the ASA House of Delegates, delegate, and 
director. He has also served on numerous Society committees and task 
forces including the committees on quality management and ambulatory 
surgical care and the task forces on office-based anesthesia and 
practice management.
  During his year as ASA President, Dr. Sinclair devoted countless 
hours to the pursuit of knowledge, consensus and education regarding 
the rare but highly publicized problem of awareness under general 
anesthesia. He also fostered partnerships with many other leading 
national medical organizations who share the common goal of improved 
safety and quality of care for the surgical patient.
  These are extremely challenging yet rewarding times for 
anesthesiologists as they shepherd the most vulnerable of patients--
from the tiniest babies to the frailest of the elderly--through the 
most intricate and, in many cases, life-saving, surgical procedures.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Eugene Sinclair, M.D., for his notable career achievements, his 
exemplary leadership, and his dedication to patient safety.

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