[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E73-E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN APPRECIATION OF DR. DAVID PATE'S SERVICE TO IDAHO AND ST. LUKE'S 
                             HEALTH SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. David C. Pate 
for his service to the great state of Idaho as he retires from St. 
Luke's Health System following a decade of achievement and success 
there.
  I'm proud to say one of the best health care systems in the United 
States is in my home state of Idaho, thanks in large part to Dr. Pate's 
transformative leadership. Dr. Pate has served as president and CEO of 
St. Luke's Health System for the past 10-plus years.
  When Dr. Pate came to St. Luke's in 2009, he pledged to turn the 
health-care system into a national leader in quality. He has done 
exactly that. Under his leadership, St. Luke's has earned the 
distinction of being a Top 15 Health System in the U.S. for six years 
in a row; it is one of only four in the entire nation to have achieved 
this objective level of excellence, ranking it with the Mayo Clinic.
  His academic background is equally impressive. Dr. Pate received his 
bachelor's degree from Rice University, his medical degree from Baylor 
College of Medicine and his law degree cum laude from the University of 
Houston Law Center. He completed his residency training at Baylor 
College of Medicine and is board-certified in internal medicine. A 
physician and a lawyer, Dr. Pate has been a wealth of knowledge 
regarding health-care policy and law and a sought-after speaker 
throughout his career.
  As noteworthy as Dr. Pate's career and accolades are, what has struck 
me the most about him is how he treats everyone he meets. He is an 
ethical, approachable and personable man, and his warm and genuine 
demeanor, coupled with his remarkable expertise, has made him an 
inspiring leader to medical professionals in Idaho and across the 
country.
  He has mentored many young professionals and mid-career executives, 
and gone out of his way to meet with and advise leaders and executives 
in health care, education and other industries. At St. Luke's, Dr. Pate 
has been known to surprise hardworking employees with cards, gifts, 
pop-up pizza parties, and other gestures of appreciation and respect. 
He has touched the lives of nurses, physicians, support staff members, 
and patients. He has shaved his head to support children with pediatric 
cancer, donned a pink mullet to bring awareness to breast cancer--and 
regularly, without fanfare, has given blood to support all those in 
need through the American Red Cross.
  In addition to his medical career, Dr. Pate is an author, lecturer, 
teacher, volunteer and active member of various professional boards and 
committees. A father of two adult daughters and a proud grandfather, 
Dr. Pate and his wife, Lynette, call the Treasure Valley of Idaho home.
  I am proud to honor Dr. Pate for his service to health care in Idaho, 
and would like to congratulate him on a well-deserved retirement.

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