[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E445-E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DR. JOAN L. VORIS

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 2017

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Dr. Joan L. Voris, who passed away on February 11, 2017. Joan was an 
incredibly hard worker who dedicated her life to bettering the lives of 
others. Through her leadership as Associate Dean of the UCSF Fresno 
Medical Education Program she touched the lives of many that had the 
pleasure of knowing her. The passing of Dr. Voris has left a void in 
the Central Valley.
  Dr. Voris was born on August 5, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, and 
lived much of her young life in Belmont, California. She then went on 
to earn her undergraduate and medical degree at Stanford University. 
She moved to Fresno in 1971, with her late husband Zirno Bezmalinovic, 
and dedicated the rest of her life to improving the central San Joaquin 
Valley.
  In 1980, Dr. Voris started her career at the Children's Clinic at 
Valley Medical Center. This center cared for children who were 
predominately low income. Coinciding, Dr. Voris

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began her residency program, pulling all-nighters to get training so 
she could be an expert in her field. In 1990, she became a member of 
the UCSF Fresno faculty, and then became president of the medical staff 
at Valley Medical Center in 1996. Dr. Voris was integral in helping 
facilitate the transition of the medical education program to the 
Community Medical Center, which cared for indigent patients.
  Dr. Voris lived an incredible life and she utilized her passion for 
medicine to help others long before she became a Dean. Dr. Voris 
contributed her summers to providing care to children in rural Mexico, 
which is something she was able to share with her husband, as he did 
similar work in Bolivia.
  In 2002, Dr. Voris became Associate Dean of the UCSF Fresno Medical 
Education Program. During her service, she successfully increased the 
number of faculty from 77 to 229, as well as increased the number of 
residents and fellows trained annually by 70 percent. She not only 
helped her patients directly but helped protect future patients by 
ensuring that residents were well trained.
  Dr. Voris' accomplishments and contributions to the Valley have not 
gone unnoticed. In 2010, she was recognized as one of the Top Ten 
Professional Women by the Marjorie Mason Center, and in 2012 she was 
awarded the Physician Community Service Lifetime Achievement Award from 
the Fresno-Madera Medical Society. Dr. Voris ended her term as the 
longest-serving associate dean in its history.
  She is survived by her children, Beatrice Bezmalinovic-Dhebar and 
husband Anirudh Dhebar of Wellesley, MA, Margaret Bezmalinovic of 
Sacramento, CA, and John Bezmalinovic and wife Tracy of Fresno, CA; and 
grandchildren, Mia Bezmalinovic, Arun Dhebar, and Chetan Dhebar. It is 
my honor to join Dr. Voris' family in celebrating the life of this 
inspirational and hardworking woman. She truly led by example and 
improved the lives of others throughout her leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Joan Voris, 
whose expertise and generosity will be truly missed.

                          ____________________