[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 159 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1248-E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING DR. HECTOR NAVA FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF SOLDIERS ON THE 
      BATTLEFIELD AND THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN OUR COMMUNITY

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 4, 2019

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
incredible career and military service of Dr. Hector Nava. His story is 
like that of the millions of immigrants who came to America with a 
desire to seek a better future for themselves, and in doing so, making 
our nation a better place.
  Upon earning his medical degree in 1967 in Mexico, Dr. Nava 
immigrated to the United States for training. Dr. Nava took an atypical 
route into the field of healthcare when he volunteered his medical 
expertise to the United States Army. He spent a year as a General 
Medical Officer in El Paso, Texas and from there he dedicated another 
year of his career as a Captain Battalion Surgeon in the 23rd Medical 
Battalion in Vietnam. For this commendable work saving the lives of 
American soldiers in combat, Dr. Nava earned the Bronze Star.
  After leaving Vietnam, Dr. Nava continued to save the lives of 
others. He ventured to Western New York and spent four more years as a 
General Medical Officer at General Hospital in Niagara Falls while 
simultaneously pursuing his residency at Buffalo General Hospital. Once 
his residency was completed, he was employed by Roswell Park Cancer 
Institute as a Cancer Research Surgeon and Endoscopist, where he would 
spend the rest ofhis career.
  While working at Roswell Park, Dr. Nava secured seven federal 
research grants, and conducted lectures around the world, from Egypt to 
Batavia. In academia, it is argued that the quality one's of research 
is reflected in how frequently it has been published and used by other 
researchers. Dr. Nava's research has been published in over one-hundred 
journals, has been used in seven different books, and has been 
referenced hundreds of times by other researchers in the field.
  Throughout his career he has received many awards including the 
Research Surgeon Award, the Hispanic American Hall of Fame--Field of 
Medicine, ranked in the top 100 of WNY's top doctors by Buffalo Spree 
Magazine, a Surgical Oncology Fellows Apple

[[Page E1249]]

Teaching Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American 
College of Surgeons. Dr. Nava also invented a treatment for Barrett's 
Esophagus, a condition that can lead to cancer of the esophagus.
  Madam Speaker, I recognize Dr. Hector Nava. From teaching 
undergraduate and graduate courses at local universities on surgical 
oncology and gastroenterology, to working and partnering with other WNY 
hospitals, and participating in local service events like the Mexican 
Musical Performance, Dr. Nava has made his mark on our community.

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