[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. FRANK J. INDIHAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 2016

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, my dear friend, Frank J. Indihar, MD 
passed away on October 23, 2016. He leaves a legacy of both medical 
excellence and committed service to my community, the state of 
Minnesota, and our nation.
  From 2002 through 2008, Dr. lndihar led Bethesda Hospital as Chief 
Executive Officer, after serving as its Medical Director for several 
years and decades as a practicing physician. Bethesda Hospital, located 
steps from the State Capitol in Saint Paul, is a long-term acute care 
hospital with a reputation for first-class specialty care. Under his 
management, Bethesda improved its programs and services and undertook 
major facility renovations.
  The entire Midwest greatly benefited from Dr. Indihar's long list of 
accomplishments at Bethesda, including establishing the Capistrant 
Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, starting an 
innovative clinic to treat young people injured from concussions, and 
creating a therapeutic garden for patients, families, and employees.
  With Bethesda's specialty in treating brain injuries, Dr. Indihar was 
a key resource to me as we worked to ensure that our servicemembers and 
veterans receive the health care they need, including assessment and 
treatment for those who sustained traumatic brain injuries during their 
service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Indihar greatly assisted me with 
my work on this issue in Congress.
  As a Major in the United States Army Medical Corps, Dr. Indihar began 
his medical career serving in Vietnam and Washington, DC, and was 
awarded a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster in 1970 for his brave and 
meritorious service. In 1973, he served as Chief Resident in Internal 
Medicine Service at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
  Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Indihar demonstrated a 
steadfast commitment to excellence in medicine. Among his numerous 
professional positions, he was President of the Ramsey County Medical 
Society and served as Delegate and Chair of the Minnesota delegation to 
the American Medical Association House of Delegates for many years. His 
dedication to medicine was especially apparent through his lifelong 
mentorship of medical students.
  Frank was known as a Renaissance man and demonstrated strong support 
for the arts community in Minnesota. He also made extensive civic 
contributions to the boards of Catholic Services to the Elderly, the 
Minnesota Orchestra, New Connections, and the Saint Paul Seminary.
  I wish to extend my sincere condolences to Frank's wife, Anita 
Pampusch, as well as his sisters, nephew and nieces, and grandnieces. 
My heartfelt condolences also go out to his colleagues at Bethesda 
Hospital and HealthEast for their loss.
  It was an honor to work with Frank, and I valued our continued 
friendship in his retirement. He was a kind and extraordinary person 
who will be deeply missed.

                          ____________________