[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING DOCTOR SUSAN M. WIDMAYER AND THE CHILDREN'S DIAGNOSTIC AND 
                            TREATMENT CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THEODORE E. DEUTCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2013

  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speak, today I rise in honor of Doctor Susan M. 
Widmayer and the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center (CDTC). I 
would like to honor both Susan and the CDTC on their excellent research 
on infant mortality and efforts to improve the lives of children and 
their parents.
  Founded in 1983 by Dr. Widmayer, the Children's Diagnostic and 
Treatment Center in Broward County has made great strides in providing 
special care for children with disabilities and mothers with HIV. When 
the CDTC started, Florida had one of the worst infant mortality rates 
in the country. As a result, Dr. Widmayer and her staff committed to 
improving the health prospects of children throughout South Florida. 
Thanks in part to the research by the CDTC, world HIV transmission 
rates from mother to infant dropped from 25 percent in the mid '90s to 
around 3 percent today.
  When no one else would care for the tens of thousands of children 
with impoverished parents, Dr. Widmayer answered the call. 
Approximately 70 percent of the Center's clients live in poverty, but 
that has not stopped the CDTC from providing prevention, intervention 
and treatment services. Every patient that walks into the CDTC is 
welcome, regardless of family income. By serving the specialized needs 
of these children, Dr. Widmayer is giving them the opportunity and care 
that no other institution would.
  Today I would like to honor Dr. Widmayer and the Children's 
Diagnostic Treatment Center, and I hope that they will continue to 
serve our communities by improving the lives of children throughout 
South Florida.

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