[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 136 (Friday, September 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DR. SPINO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2007

  Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the medical career of Dr. Pascal Daniel Spino of Greensburg, 
PA.
  After 60 years of serving the citizens of Greensburg as a 
pediatrician, Dr. Spino is retiring from practice. The genuine concern 
and compassion Dr. Spino gave his patients on a daily basis is 
appreciated more than words can say. The sincere love and care his 
patients received should serve as a model to all who practice medicine.
  Dr. Spino has had a truly remarkable career. But he is a modest man 
who would not boast about his many accomplishments or awards. So let me 
mention just a few. Always having a big heart for the less fortunate, 
Dr. Spino founded the first Well Baby Clinic in Westmoreland County 
which serves indigent children from birth to 6 years of age. The clinic 
provides free exams and immunizations to the indigent children of 
Southwestern Pennsylvania. Dr. Spino has personally manned the clinic 
since it began in 1954.
  In 1970, when a patient, Jacob, was suffering from biliary atresia (a 
rare condition in newborn infants in which the common bile duct between 
the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent), the 
townspeople of Greensburg, PA, responded generously with donations to 
help with the high medical costs. This tradition has carried on and the 
``Joy of Jacob'' fund is still active and successful in helping to 
treat children with birth defects.
  Dr. Spino took notice of abused children with no place to go. He felt 
for them and decided to take action in 1972, by founding the RANCH, or 
Render Any Needy Child Help program. A program designed solely to 
provide medical care for abused children. Dr. Spino then went on to 
create a Level II Nursery at Westmoreland Regional Hospital for the 
care of infants and helped create a modern pediatric department at 
Westmoreland Regional Hospital with intensive care capabilities.
  Dr. Spino has received a number of awards including: Man of the Year 
by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for his outstanding service to the 
community; the Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year in 1989 by the 
Pennsylvania Chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics and was honored with 
``Doctor Spino Day,'' in Westmoreland County for his lifetime 
commitment to helping others. Over 4,000 people--\1/4\ of the City's 
residents were in attendance--despite a downpour of rain.
  In my practice as a child psychologist, our paths have crossed 
several times over the years through our patients. I know first-hand 
the tremendous respect and affection patients and professionals alike 
have for Dr. Spino. I understand first-hand the joy of helping a child. 
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Spino's career, personal 
sacrifice and devotion to improving our health care system and helping 
others.

                          ____________________