[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DOCTOR RALPH MESSO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 2008

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
constituent who has faithfully served the people of Staten Island for 
many years, Dr. Ralph Messo.
  Born on Staten Island in 1961, Dr. Messo was inspired by the 
compassion and caring nature of the physicians he encountered as a 
young boy. After graduating from Wagner College, Dr. Messo pursued and 
was awarded a degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the University of New 
England in 1989. Dr. Messo was drawn to osteopathic medicine and its 
holistic approach to treatment--care that extended beyond the patient 
to his or her entire family.
  After medical school, Dr. Messo returned to New York to care for the 
residents of Staten Island. Over the years, he has earned the respect 
and gratitude of my constituents across the Island through his generous 
spirit, his caring nature and unyielding commitment to health care in 
the borough. Dr. Messo's gentle demeanor and reassuring tone provide 
comfort to all his patients--the new mothers and fathers struggling to 
navigate the sometimes choppy waters of parenthood . . . and seniors 
who may need extra reassurance and a sympathetic ear.
  He is currently the president of the Richmond County Medical Society, 
serves as councilor to the American College of Physicians, is an 
attending faculty member at both of Staten Island's medical centers, 
and sits on the Medical Advisory Board of the Juvenile Diabetes 
Research Foundation. He served as the assistant director of the 
Internal Medicine/Pediatric residency program at Staten Island 
University Hospital from 1993-2007 and was recently appointed Adjunct 
Clinical professor at Tourocom, a new medical school in Harlem, New 
York. In addition, Dr. Messo has been given The Consumer's Research 
Council of America's ``Top Physician'' award, the Peter Barbero 
Humanitarian Award, and was named ``America's Top Pediatrician'' in 
2007 and 2008.
  Dr. Messo continues to give back to his profession, lending his years 
of experience to young medical students and residents--the physicians 
of tomorrow who work alongside him, share in his knowledge and learn 
that caring for a patient is as much about listening as it is about 
treating.
  For his decades of service to the Staten Island community, I ask that 
my colleagues join with me in honoring Dr. Ralph Messo and thanking him 
for his dedication to health care.

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