[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING JAY WOLVOVSKY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate my 
friend Jay Wolvovsky on his 30 years of outstanding service to the 
residents of the greater Baltimore community. At the end of this month, 
Jay will retire from his position as CEO of the Baltimore Medical 
System (BMS), a position he has held since he founded BMS in 1984. 
Under Jay's stewardship, BMS has grown into Maryland's largest 
Federally Qualified Health Center system. Since taking over the 
operation of four East Baltimore clinics from the Baltimore City Health 
Department in 1984, BMS has expanded to thirteen health centers 
reaching the whole city and even Baltimore County, including eight 
school-based health centers that provide essential medical care to more 
than 1,000 children each year. When struggling communities have faced 
the loss of healthcare providers, BMS has stepped in, absorbing 
practices and patients from the Baltimore neighborhoods of Highlandtown 
and O'Donnell Heights. All told, BMS provides medical care to over 
45,000 underserved patients each year.
   I consider myself lucky to have worked with Jay for many years. He 
has had an enormous impact on the Baltimore region and he has changed 
the lives of countless families in the State of Maryland and beyond. 
His compassion and dedication to give back to his community and to 
bring medical care to those who could not otherwise receive it has been 
the driving force behind BMS' incredible success over the past three 
decades. His keen eye for innovation, whether in working with the 
Baltimore City Health Department to provide seniors with pharmacy 
services 20 years before Medicare Part D, or in building relationships 
and partnerships with local foundations and national groups to expand 
BMS' reach, has been an invaluable asset to the organization. Jay has 
been a true friend to the Baltimore community and to me; I thank him 
for all he has accomplished and congratulate him on his well-earned 
retirement.

                          ____________________