[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 16, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E54]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE CAREER OF DR. GENE W. KALLSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2019

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Dr. 
Gene W. Kallsen, on the occasion of his retirement as Emergency Faculty 
and Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF, Fresno and 
Community Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department. Dr. Kallsen 
served his last shift as an emergency physician on December 28, 2018. 
This is the culmination of a medical career spanning over 40 years in 
emergency medicine in Fresno. Under his exemplary leadership, Dr. 
Kallsen has achieved success through innovative thinking and integrity.
  Dr. Kallsen, a native of Minnesota, attended the University of 
Minnesota Medical School and completed his undergraduate studies at the 
University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Kallsen received 
his residency training at the University of California, San Francisco--
Fresno and competing an internship at the University of Washington 
Affiliate/Harborview Medical Center.
  Dr. Kallsen first began his career as an emergency medical resident 
at UCSF Fresno, where he maintained stable relationships with staff and 
patients. His strong work ethic and dedication to helping people earned 
him a position as a faculty member, and eventually as Chief and Medical 
Director for the program. During the program's 43-year history, UCSF 
Fresno's emergency program has graduated more than 300 residents. Dr. 
Kallsen's time at UCSF Fresno can be characterized by his compassion 
and willingness to go the extra mile to help his patients and students.
  Dr. Kallsen's distinguished career includes more than 10 years as 
Fresno County's first Emergency Medical Services director, two years as 
chair of the California Commission of Emergency Medical Services, 23 
years as chief of UCSF Fresno's Emergency Medicine Department, five 
years as assistant dean at UCSF Fresno and over 28 years in leadership 
roles with the Central Faculty Medical Group. He also led the emergency 
medicine department transition from University Medical Center to 
Community Regional Medical Center. Today, Community Regional's 
Emergency Department is one of the largest and busiest in California, 
seeing an average of 110,000 patients a year. In addition, Dr. Kallsen 
and his wife Pam have established the Gene W. Kallsen, MD, Endowed 
Chair in Emergency Medicine at UCSF Fresno, to ensure that the teaching 
program will continue to recruit the finest physicians and medical 
educators to head its emergency medicine program for years to come.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Dr. Gene 
W. Kallsen for his remarkable career achievements with Community 
Regional Medical Center's Emergency Room. Dr. Kallsen will leave a 
robust foundation for the Emergency Department to continue to build 
upon. He has created a lasting legacy that will continue to help the 
people of the San Joaquin Valley. I wish Dr. Kallsen the very best as 
he enters this new phase of his life.

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