[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 174 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2384-E2385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




POSTHUMOUSLY HONORING GEORGE F. BAKER, D.D.S., AS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH 
  CHAMPION 2007 HONOREE AT THE TRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CHAMPIONS 
           RECEPTION BY THE WEST FRESNO HEALTHCARE COALITION

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 9, 2007

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate George F. 
Baker, D.D.S. for being posthumously named a 2007 honoree at the 
Tribute to Health Champions reception by the West Fresno Healthcare 
Coalition. As a person who helped shape the dental profession and 
patient care throughout San Joaquin Valley, he is certainly deserving 
of this honor.

[[Page E2385]]

  Dr. Baker is fondly remembered by the residents of Southwest Fresno 
as one of the few dentists who would not hesitate to care for those 
less fortunate who were served only by publicly funded dental programs. 
His goal was to ensure that people in rural areas had access to good, 
affordable dental care. It was this commitment to caring for the 
underserved which led Dr. Baker to author the initial grant request in 
the mid 1970's to establish the Firebaugh-Mendota Dental Clinic. Dr. 
Baker was also a strong supporter and advocate of the UCSF-Fresno 
Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, a program built to 
address the persistent shortage of Latino physicians in the community 
and amongst the medical school faculty. He helped create the dental 
clinic at the Valley Medical Center and was closely involved in 
managing and ensuring that indigent families had access to dental 
services there at all times.
  The establishment of a scholarship in his name for entering students 
at the UCLA School of Dentistry demonstrates the high regard in which 
Dr. Baker is held. It recognizes the long and outstanding contributions 
he made to the dental profession and to education in the field of 
dentistry.
  Dr. Baker was a man of great principle and integrity and continues to 
be a role model for our Valley's newest dental professionals. Along 
with the memory of his work, his scholarship will enable more dentists 
to help those in need, as Dr. Baker did for so long. George was my 
friend and a mentor during my early years in health care for our valley 
and the political process. His son Tim and daughter Bethany carry on 
this spirit of community service. It is with great pride that I 
posthumously honor him for all that he did on behalf of Western Fresno 
and congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award.

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