[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. JACOB EAPEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Jacob 
Eapen on being the 2007 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 
Dr. Eapen, a resident of Fremont, California, is a pediatrician who has 
spent countless hours through the years in community service. When he 
hasn't been serving on various boards in or near Fremont, he has 
provided medical assistance statewide and overseas. He has spent more 
than 25 years giving back to a world too often in need.
  His endless work has earned him local, state and national 
recognition. His most recent award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, is 
a prestigious honor given annually by the New York-based National 
Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The medal celebrates the immigrant 
experience and seeks to honor Americans from a wide variety of 
backgrounds for their positive and lasting imprint on society.
  In previous years, the medal has been awarded to six U.S. presidents; 
courageous heroes who created positive social change such as Rosa Parks 
and Elie Wiesel and athletes, including Muhammad Ali. He is one of just 
six Indo-Americans and one of 12 Californians to receive the Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor this year.
  Dr. Eapen was born in Trivandrum, Kerala, in southern India where he 
grew up and received his medical degree. He earned his master's degree 
in public health from the University of California, Berkeley. He spent 
five years in Sub-Saharan Africa as a teacher and physician. He recalls 
his days in Africa where he would arrive at the medical clinic at 8 
a.m. and find 150 people waiting in line for medical help, including 
some who had walked for hours. This experience fueled his passion to 
value life and to make a difference in the lives of others.
  He is currently an elected member of the Washington Hospital board of 
directors and works as a practicing pediatrician in Newark with Alameda 
County Health Services. Dr. Eapen has previously served as a board 
member of the Association of California Healthcare Districts, medical 
director of a local health care clinic, Alameda County public health 
commissioner, U.N. high commissioner for refugees in the Philippines, 
and as an adviser to Alameda County's Every Child Counts Commission. In 
2004, he received the Medical Board of California's First Physicians 
award.
  I join Dr. Eapen's friends and admirers in congratulating him on 
receiving his most recent award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. It is 
well deserved and a fitting symbol of his endless commitment and 
contributions to make a better life for others.

                          ____________________