[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING PAM BRIER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 8, 2016

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a leader who 
has worked tirelessly to improve healthcare for residents of Brooklyn 
and all of New York City.
  At the beginning of this month, Pam Brier retired as President and 
Chief Executive Officer of Maimonides Medical Center. Throughout her 
illustrious career, Pam has shepherded Maimonides from a community 
hospital to a state-of-the-art medical hub, a pioneer of integrating 
technology into medical care.
  Pam's achievements are too many to recount. She helped introduce 
information technology to better care for the chronically ill. She 
launched a cancer center in Brooklyn, making treatments more accessible 
in our borough. She worked on securing clothing for homeless patients, 
and made countless other contributions to New York's health system.
  Pam founded the Brooklyn Health Information Exchange, bringing 
together healthcare providers and social service providers. With 
support from the state and from a Federal Innovation Award, she 
encouraged the development of a collaborative model program to 
coordinate the care of individuals living with serious mental illness 
and other chronic diseases.
  Pam accomplished all of this because of her outstanding personal 
abilities. I've known her for decades and can tell you she has that 
rare combination of traits that make for an exceptional leader. She has 
the perseverance to stay the course during trying times, to evolve her 
thinking as new challenges arise and a special quality that inspires 
others to succeed.
  During her tenure, Pam made sure every staff member was working 
together to build Maimonides into the premier healthcare institution it 
is today. She did all of this, while never losing sight of the fact 
that healthcare is not just about medicine--it is about caring for 
people.
  Pam has an unwavering commitment to helping cure the sick and provide 
for those of meager means. I can tell you there was never a moment when 
Pam did not take the opportunity to advocate for better healthcare. 
Whether it was a meeting at the hospital in New York or any other 
occasion--like my birthday--or even hers--she always found a way to 
work healthcare issues into the conversation.
  That tireless advocacy comes from a good place. It is because Pam 
Brier knows that when it comes to healthcare we are talking about 
people's lives and she never stopped fighting to improve our healthcare 
system.
  Pam Brier has done much for our community and City. We all owe her a 
debt of gratitude. Later this month the Maimonides community will come 
together to salute Pam and wish her well. For now, Mr. Speaker, I ask 
that my colleagues join me in congratulating Pam Brier on her many 
achievements and her well-deserved retirement.

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