[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 123 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF JOSE JOEL GARCIA

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2012

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jose Joel 
Garcia, who is retiring from his position as Chief Executive Officer of 
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc., a multi-site and multi-service 
community health center in Southern Alameda County, California. Mr. 
Garcia has provided exemplary leadership to Tiburcio Vasquez Health 
Center since August 1992 and has expanded the organization to include a 
myriad of clinical and social services through multiple facilities.
  Prior to his appointment as CEO of Tiburcio Vasquez, Mr. Garcia held 
academic appointments at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Public Health 
and the Graduate School of Business at the University of Colorado. 
Between 1982 and 1993, he helped develop and direct a multidisciplinary 
bi-national graduate student exchange program known as the University 
of California-Universidad de Guadalajara ``Intercambio Academico.''
  Mr. Garcia received his undergraduate degree in Political Science 
from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a law degree from 
the Boalt School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He 
is an active member of state and federal bars and has published 
research on health policy, law and administration in the United States 
and abroad. His professional and social justice contributions have 
advanced health access through the creation of a local, statewide and 
national nonprofit health care infrastructure and a focus on 
strengthening community-based self-governance at health centers.
  In recognition of his contributions, Mr. Garcia has received numerous 
awards. He currently serves on the Executive Committee and the Board of 
Directors of the Primary Care Association, which he co-founded. He is a 
Board Member of the Alameda Health Consortium and Community Health 
Center network. His past affiliations include directing Centro Legal de 
La Raza, co-founding the Berkeley Primary Access Clinic, and past 
Chairperson and Board Member of Eden Medical Center. He served for five 
years on the Board of Directors of the University of California, 
Berkeley Alumni Association.
  I join Jose Joel Garcia's colleagues, friends and family in 
applauding his outstanding career in numerous arenas to benefit others. 
While he is stepping down from his CEO role at Tiburcio Vasquez Health 
Center, he will remain affiliated with the organization in some 
capacity. This is good news as Mr. Garcia has played a major role in 
shaping health care delivery in Alameda County. We will welcome his 
continuing leadership skills, talent, intellect, and experience.

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