[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING ROBERT SILLEN FOR HIS OUTSTANDING WORK IN HEALTHCARE FOR SANTA 
                              CLARA COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my 
Santa Clara County colleagues Representatives Mike Honda and Anna Eshoo 
to acknowledge and honor Robert Sillen who is retiring after a 
noteworthy and successful career in public health serving the residents 
of Santa Clara County.
  In June, 1993, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, on which 
Congress Members Lofgren and Honda served, created a full-service, 
integrated County health care system consisting of the Santa Clara 
Valley Medical Center, Department of Public Health, Department of 
Mental Health, Department of Custody Health Services and the Department 
of Alcohol & Drug Services. The Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital 
System is responsible for a full continuum of preventive intervention 
and treatment services throughout the County, both directly under 
County auspices and through contracts with the private sector. The 
system is comprised of over 6,200 employees and has an annual operating 
budget of nearly $1.4 billion.
  Until very recently, Robert Sillen served as Executive Director and 
was responsible for all aspects of the system's operations, long range 
planning, private and public partnerships, community relations, and 
capital development and information systems. Mr. Sillen was fully 
accountable for the development of a cost effective, fully integrated 
system that is essential for the successful conversion to a full-
service managed care delivery system in a highly competitive 
environment. In addition, he was responsible for designing and 
implementing a County-wide Medi-Cal Managed Care program in June 1996 
as well as the Children's Health Initiative and Healthy Kids program in 
January, 2000.
  Prior to his position with the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital 
System, Mr. Sillen was Executive Director of the Santa Clara Valley 
Medical Center, a 500-bed regional medical center with an operating 
budget of over $800 million and 4,500 full-time equivalent employees. 
Services range from community based primary care satellite clinics to 
regional services for treatment of bums, spinal cord injuries, head 
trauma, neonatal intensive care, poison control and trauma, the life 
flight helicopter and health services for those in jail custody.
  Prior to his executive director positions with the Santa Clara Valley 
Health & Hospital System and the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Mr. 
Sillen worked at the University Hospital at the UC Medical Center in 
San Diego, the City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the U.S. 
Public Health Service in New York, New York. He earned his Bachelor's 
degree from the University of Denver, Colorado and his Master's degree 
in Public Health from Yale University.
  Robert Sillen has acted as a guardian of the virtues and spirit 
behind the creation of the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System. 
The initial challenges faced in establishing a foundation for a strong 
network of health providers with private, local, regional and national 
departments were dizzying, but achievable with Mr. Sillen at the helm. 
We sincerely thank him on behalf of the thousands of residents who have 
benefited from this system and wish him the very best upon his 
retirement.

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