[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 195 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1204-E1205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SALUTING THE CAREER OF BARBARA RYAN

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. DARRELL ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 2021

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a community 
leader who is retiring after four decades of service to the people of 
San Diego County.
  Over the last three decades, Barbara Ryan has served as Vice 
President of Government Affairs at Rady Children's Hospital, a Level 1 
Pediatric Trauma Center that is the largest children's hospital in 
California serving patients from San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial 
Counties. Rady is a thriving hub of the region's healthcare system that 
employs more than 700 physicians, 1,000 nurses, 3,000 employees, 450 
active volunteers and 1,200 auxiliary staff. Barbara has been a 
powerful and successful advocate for children and healthcare, for the 
region's healthcare systems and providers, and for patients. She is 
among

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the most trusted voices regularly sought out by local, state, and 
federal elected officials. Prior to joining the Rady team, she worked 
as a senior staff member to a state senator.
  Barbara's leadership and advocacy extends far beyond the industry 
where she was employed. Since 1979 she has served as a Member of the 
Board of Education serving the Santee School District, where she has 
held terms as President, Vice President, Clerk, and Legislative 
Representative over the course of her tenure.
  She has also been a leader in statewide education groups, serving as 
a delegate to the California School Boards Association and as a member 
of its Masters in Governance Faculty, service that helped earn her the 
San Diego County School Boards Association School Board Member of the 
Year in 2011. Barbara has been recognized with the YWCA Women in 
Business Award; the Santee Chamber of Commerce President's Award; 
Santee Kiwanis Citizen of the Year; California State Assembly Woman of 
the Year; Citizen of the Year from Phi Delta Kappa and the Women in 
Leadership Award from the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, 
among many other honors.
  But perhaps her greatest honor is being a parent and grandparent--and 
this experience has guided every aspect of her career as a children's 
health advocate, education leader and community leader. I am proud to 
call her my friend and am grateful for her decades of service to the 
children, families, and healthcare professionals in San Diego County. 
Rady Children's is consistently ranked top in the nation across many 
categories, and that exceptional leadership is reflected in its 
community engagement, professionalism, and advocacy, demonstrated by 
Barbara throughout her career.
  I ask my colleagues to please join me in extending our gratitude for 
her decades of service community leadership, and commitment to 
education and healthcare.

                          ____________________