[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19208]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     RETIREMENT OF DR. ERNEST URBAN

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dr. 
Ernest Urban as he retires from the largest healthcare system in the 
world, the Veterans Health Administration/Department of Veterans 
Affairs. For 26 years, Dr. Urban's compassionate, caring medical 
service has made an impact on our nation's heroes, our veterans.
  Dr. Urban has served the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare 
System comprised of University Drive, Aspinwall and Highland Drive 
Divisions for 15 years as Chief of Staff. He has also been a professor 
and Assistant Dean for Veterans Affairs at the University of 
Pittsburgh's School of Medicine since 1985. Prior to 1985, he served in 
several other capacities in hospitals and universities all over the 
country. Dr. Urban has also authored publications dealing with many 
aspects of medicine that have proven to benefit the quality of care for 
our veterans. Most importantly, he continues to lecture and teach on a 
wide range of topics that benefit the VA Health Administration 
Personnel and provides medical leadership to carry into the 21st 
century.
  I have been privileged to personally witness the hard work and 
dedication of doctors like Dr. Urban within the Veterans Administration 
Healthcare System. From 1946 until 1985, my mother served as a VA nurse 
at several hospitals including Aspinwall Veterans Hospital in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Butler Veterans Hospital in Butler, 
Pennsylvania. As Chief of Nursing for 32 years, my mother can attest to 
the commitment which is typical of VA doctors and nurses everywhere. 
During times of low funding and limited staffing, VA doctors and staff 
worked harder than ever to care for the needs of their patients. While 
my experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee has served as 
affirmation of the dedication of Veterans Healthcare Administration, it 
pales in comparison to the hard work and sacrifice that I personally 
witnessed as the son of someone who served in the Veterans Healthcare 
Administration.
  It is at this time that I would like to recognize Dr. Urban for his 
tremendous dedication to the medical profession. As he prepares for 
retirement, we can only celebrate the faithful service he provided to 
the needs of all veterans.

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