[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S8059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING DR. RAMON SY

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I congratulate and extend my warmest 
aloha to Dr. Ramon Sy, who was selected as Hawaii's national recipient 
of the Jefferson Award. The Jefferson Award is a prestigious award 
recognizing and honoring individuals for their contributions to 
community and public service. Dr. Sy, through his Aloha Medical 
Mission, has helped to provide medical treatment to thousands of 
individuals in the Pacific and Asia, who are unable to access modern 
medical care due to cost or availability.
  A native of the Philippines, Dr. Sy and seven other members of the 
Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii established the Aloha Medical 
Mission in 1983. The Aloha Medical Mission provides voluntary medical, 
surgical, and other health-related services, which include the donation 
of supplies and equipment, to medically indigent areas of Southeast 
Asia and the Pacific. In addition to providing access to health 
services, the Aloha Medical Mission also provides training to 
physicians overseas and through an exchange fellowship program in 
Honolulu, HI.
  Dr. Sy is responsible for furthering the development of the Aloha 
Medical Mission from a small group of doctors to an organization well 
known within the international community. Since the establishment of 
the Aloha Medical Mission, Dr. Sy and his colleagues have served in 11 
countries, treated 200,000 patients, and performed over 9,000 
operations. His commitment to ensuring that medical care is accessible 
in both Hawaii and abroad demonstrates his compassion and undying 
concern for others. He is an inspiration to all because of his 
willingness to embrace the problems of those less fortunate. I hope 
that many will aspire to follow Dr. Sy's example by making a commitment 
to making a difference.
  I thank Dr. Sy for his dedication and quality efforts and extend the 
same gratitude to all the members of the Aloha Medical Mission. I wish 
Dr. Sy and his family the best in their future endeavors.

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