[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 HONORING DR. MARIA ELOISA ALBAY DE PADUA AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN 
 CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 2022

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, Maria Eloisa Albay de Padua, MD, is the 
longest-serving physician in Central Florida Health Care, a non-profit 
federally qualified community health care center.
  After finishing her education in the Philippines, Dr. de Padua 
immigrated to the United States of America and did her residency at the 
Children's Hospital of Buffalo. After learning about CFHC's mission to 
help migrant workers and the underserved 27 years ago, Dr. de Padua 
joined and never looked back.
  Going into medicine to help the sick and the most vulnerable, Dr. de 
Padua considered CFHC the perfect place to realize her dreams. 
Initially, she worked as a pediatrician for the Frostproof, Wauchula, 
and Avon Park Community Health Centers. Then, as CFHC began growing, 
Dr. de Padua helped start several other facilities by being one of the 
first providers in the Dundee, Mulberry, Lakeland, and Winter Haven 
Community Health Centers.
  As a pediatrician, Dr. de Padua treats sick children from birth to 
age 18. Her focus is on helping children stay healthy by ensuring they 
get their well checks and immunizations promptly. Having served the 
community for 27 years, Dr. de Padua now has former patients who are 
parents, bringing their children to see her as patients.
  For de Padua, her greatest reward as a pediatrician is to see her 
patients grow from newborns to young students to college graduates who 
then move on to become contributing members of society.

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