[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2159-E2160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING DR. ROGER GORDON SMITH'S CAREER SERVICE TO OUR NATION'S 
                                VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor an unsung hero of the 
Veterans Administration, Dr. Roger Gordon Smith, M.D. Dr. Smith was 
born on April 6, 1951, and just recently concluded his long career 
serving our nation's veterans on August 26th of this year.
  Dr. Smith attended Battle Creek Central High School in Michigan, 
where he graduated in 1969. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in 
Chemistry with top honors from Howard University in 1973. He also 
earned his doctoral degree in medicine with scholastic honors from 
Howard University in 1977. Following that, he interned at Howard 
University Hospital until 1978, whereupon he obtained his license to 
practice medicine in the District of Columbia the following year.
  With such an auspicious beginning to his career in medicine, one 
might have expected Dr. Smith to pursue a lucrative private practice. 
Instead, once he had paid off his medical school debts, Dr. Smith chose 
to apply his considerable talents toward a long career with the 
Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. There, he 
attended to the often difficult and complex needs of disabled and 
retired veterans, most of whom were just returning from Vietnam.
  Upon beginning work with the VA, Dr. Smith quickly faced skepticism 
and bigotry from

[[Page E2160]]

some of his patients because of his race. Rather than letting this 
become a source of discouragement, Dr. Smith instead quietly and calmly 
carried out his vital work each day with warmth and good humor. He was 
known to have convinced more than a few patients to let go of their 
racial animus because of his professional demeanor and attentiveness to 
his patients' needs and concerns. Dr. Smith believes that it is a great 
privilege to be entrusted with the well being of our nation's veterans, 
and that commitment to service is reflected in the way he cared for our 
nation's wounded.
  Among his colleagues, Dr. Smith's bedside manner was considered ``a 
thing of beauty.'' He was always open, accessible, and never made 
anyone feel like they were imposing a burden on his time. His calm 
manner under stress exerted a calming influence on those around him. As 
a resident teacher, Dr. Smith was sought-after by physicians-in-
training for his professional enthusiasm and expertise. His patients 
regarded him as their primary care physician of choice, and considered 
his office in the VA ``the gold standard'' in healthcare. He took even 
the most mundane talks seriously whenever it concerned a veteran's 
well-being, listening carefully to every patient's story, dutifully 
tracking each patient's clinical needs, no matter how small.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Dr. Roger 
Gordon Smith for his dedication to his country, his service to our 
nation's wounded and the inspiration he has provided to his students 
and his colleagues. Dr. Smith's great achievement is three decades of 
daily service to our veterans, acting as the open hand of a grateful 
nation to our nation's wounded warriors. Dr. Smith is what every 
physician should strive to be.

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