[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 140 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF JIM O'DONNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2016

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Jim O'Donnell who has 
been a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente for 35 years. For the last 
16 years he served in a vital leadership role as Physician-in-Chief at 
the Redwood City Medical Center. Jim is everything a patient can hope 
for in a physician. He is brilliant, warm, funny, and up to date on the 
latest research and technology. In addition to his pediatric caseload, 
Dr. O'Donnell cared for my parents and I could not have imagined a more 
skilled physician to offer care to them.
  Dr. O'Donnell is a visionary. He led the negotiations and planning 
for the new Redwood City hospital that opened in December 2014. At the 
ribbon cutting, Kaiser CEO Bernard Tyson noted that he was initially 
skeptical of the proposal for a new hospital. Now I ask everyone to 
imagine a poker game between Jim O'Donnell and Bernard Tyson. Let me 
assure you that it was never an even match. Jim bluffed many times, and 
eventually Bernard Tyson was forced to fold. South County Kaiser 
patients won the pot, and it was quite lucrative--perhaps a bit costly 
for Mr. Tyson--but the hospital is truly amazing.
  In addition to its ultra-modern equipment, the hospital offers green 
architecture and a soothing environment filled with warm colors and 
beautiful artwork. The hospital is also a designated stroke center. The 
American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have awarded 
it the ``Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement 
Award'' for providing patients with the best possible care. U.S. News & 
World Report named it a high performing hospital for neuroscience.
  Planning a new hospital and seeing patients wasn't enough, and thus 
Jim was also instrumental in opening the San Mateo Medical Offices in 
2011. He is always looking for new and creative ways to improve care 
for patients. Jim O'Donnell is Kaiser's Johnny Appleseed of clinic and 
hospital construction. I suspect that his name is well known by 
Kaiser's capital allocation committee, and most likely because Jim is 
as prudent with Kaiser's construction dollars as he is with the health 
of his patients.
  Dr. O'Donnell grew up in a small farming community in Iowa. His 
interest in public service and his honing of great people skills began 
early when he worked in his father's general store. He developed a deep 
fascination with science. Combining those three ingredients naturally 
led him to medicine. He received his medical degree from the University 
of Iowa, College of Medicine in Iowa City. He completed his medical 
internship and residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann 
Arbor, Michigan. He is also a 1998 graduate of the Kenan Flagler School 
of Business Advanced Leadership Program at the University of North 
Carolina, Chapel Hill.
  The reason he chose pediatrics is obvious. He loves children. His awe 
watching young children grow up and his passion to help them develop 
into productive and healthy adolescents are palpable.
  After he finished his residency in 1980, Jim moved to the Bay Area. 
He chose Kaiser Permanente because he liked its preventative focus and 
its integrated model of care. We are immensely fortunate that Jim 
settled here and made Redwood City his home with his husband, Michael, 
and he says his most joyful experience in life is time with his two 
daughters, Emma and Audie.
  For 15 years, Jim O'Donnell has served on Redwood City 2020, a 
partnership among the City of Redwood City, the elementary and high 
school districts, San Mateo County, Stanford University, the Sequoia 
Healthcare District and Kaiser Permanente designed to support the 
success of all youth and families and to engage and strengthen the 
community. Jim's strategic thinking, problem-solving ability and 
passion have benefited everyone in that partnership and our community 
at large. In his well-deserved retirement, Jim will enjoy more time 
with his family and finally have more time to read, hike, cook and take 
advantage of our great Bay Area restaurants.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Dr. Jim O'Donnell, a top-notch doctor, devoted family man, and 
extraordinary human being who I am very fortunate to call my good 
friend. While he is leaving Kaiser Permanente, he leaves behind a 
first-class hospital with a world-class medical team. His vision for a 
healthy Redwood City has come alive under his stewardship. His child--
the hospital--and the staff that animate the child will now say 
farewell to their father, but the lessons learned from Jim's 
instruction will save lives for decades yet to come.

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