[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING PATRICIA GARCIA DUENAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my 
constituent, Patricia Garcia Duenas, who will be retiring on May 1st 
from Jackson Memorial Hospital after 31 years of dedicated service to 
our community.
  Like my family and me, and so many others in my Congressional 
district, Patricia was forced to flee Castro's brutal tyranny. She 
arrived in Miami from Cuba in 1968.
  Patricia attended South Miami Senior High School and had great pride 
for her school. She was actively involved in extra-curricular 
activities and was selected to the Homecoming Court and Captain of the 
Varsity Cheerleaders.
  Patricia later attended the University of Florida and graduated in 
1986, with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. Her desire 
to help others in our community led her to a lifelong career at Jackson 
Memorial Hospital.
  Patricia first joined the Jackson family in 1987, as a Child Life 
Specialist at Holtz Children's Center. In 1988, she accepted a position 
as a Recreation Therapist in Mental Health and, for the past thirty 
years she has helped thousands of individuals with mental illness and 
addiction. Her dedication and commitment to her patients and to Jackson 
Behavioral Health Hospital have earned her numerous recognitions.
  In October of 2015, she was named Manager of Activity Therapy 
Services and, under her leadership, the Department has continued to go 
above and beyond to provide excellent care.
  Throughout her three decades of service, it is without question that 
Patricia has been a champion of mental health care and that she has 
impacted the lives of countless individuals. I thank Patricia for her 
many years of service to our South Florida community.

                          ____________________