[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19926-19927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  TRIBUTE TO ANDRE A. GALIBER, SR., MD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA MC CHRISTENSEN

                           of virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2000

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Andre 
Anthony Galiber, Sr., who passed away this week. Dr. Galiber was a 
great leader of the medical profession, particularly in the field of 
Radiology, an ideal family man, an outstanding citizen and a great 
humanitarian in my district, the community of St. Croix and the entire 
U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Dr. Galiber earned his Medical Doctorate in 1957 and completed a 
diagnostic and therapeutic radiology residency in 1963. His distinctive 
medical career began with an internship at the Howard University's 
Freedmen's Hospital, here in Washington, D.C. He also served as a 
Captain in the U.S. Medical Corps and was the Chief Radiologist at Fort 
Benjamin Harrison Army Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  Dr. Galiber opened his private Radiology office in 1967 and became 
the first full-time, board certified Radiologist, in the Virgin 
Islands. He was and remained the only regional Fellow of the American 
College of Radiology. Dr. Galiber became the Director of the Radiology 
Department at the Charles Harwood Hospital during the 1960's and 
1970's, and became the Director of the Radiology Department when the 
hospital relocated to the new Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and 
Medical Center, serving in that capacity until his ``so-called'' 
retirement in 1984.
  Dr. Galiber volunteered as a consultant at the new St. Croix Hospital 
and provided most of the technical training and professional services 
during the initial ten year growth period of clinical ultrasound. He 
performed and interpreted the first echocardiograms on St. Croix and 
was the first Radiologist licensed in Computer Tomography. He was a FDA 
accredited mammoradiologist and had been performing mammographys since 
he opened his practice in 1964.
  His untiring dedication to St. Croix was also directed at 
strengthening and advocating on behalf of the medical community. He was 
an active member of the Virgin Islands Medical Society for almost forty 
years, serving as President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate 
to the American Medical Association, as well as Delegate to the 
National Medical Association.
  Dr. Galiber also served as President of the Croix Hospital Medical 
staff, was an elected officer Virgin Islands Medical Institute and 
presented, coordinated and monitored seminars for his peers. He was 
also the principal supporter of advanced diagnostic imaging 
capabilities at the Governor Juan Luis Hospital. Recently, he drafted 
legislation that was proposed by the Virgin Islands Medical Institute, 
to encourage Virgin Islands physicians training in the United States, 
to become licensed in the Territory. Most notably, he was a mentor and 
ardent supporter of students pursuing health science careers, of which 
I was one.
  Hurricane Hugo introduced several generations of Virgin Islanders to 
the devastation a hurricane could inflict. While most of the populace 
remained stunned in the aftermath, Dr. Galiber salvaged his 
radiological equipment, established electrical power and a safe habitat 
for essential medical operations and within nine days after the 
hurricane had passed, he was essentially ready to provide services to 
his patients.
  Dr. Galiber was a charter member of the St. Croix Power Squadron. He 
became a trustee for most of the schools on the island of St. Croix 
including St. Mary's Catholic School, Country Day School, Good Hope 
School and St. Dunstan's Episcopal School. Dr. Galiber was also the 
chairperson of the St. Croix Continuing Medical Education Committee 
which

[[Page 19927]]

certified all eligible programs to do post-graduate training for 
physicians, and a member of the Eta lota lota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity.
  As an entrepreneur, Dr. Galiber in 1974 became the Project 
Development Coordinator/Secretary Treasurer, of the first Medical 
Office Condominium in the Virgin Islands. He was one of seven owners of 
Medical offices in Island Medical Center Associates, and supervised the 
management of the entire complex along with managing and practicing his 
own radiology office at the same time.
  Dr. Galiber was an avid reader of non-fiction and a history buff of 
World War II, greatly admiring the deeds of Winston Churchill. For 
recreation he enjoyed golf, tennis, traveling, dancing, and classical 
music.
  He and his wife were Members of Friends of Denmark, an organization 
that strives to maintain the links established by more than two 
centuries of Danish rule. He and his wife also joined the Landmark 
Society, which preserves and promotes the various influences in our 
unique architecture that has developed over the centuries, and our 
local cultural traditions. He was also a member of the Virgin Islands 
Lung Association and the St. George's Botanical Garden.
  Dr. and Mrs. Galiber were also collectors of original art by local 
artists even collaborating in commissioning many of the items he 
eventually bought. He insisted on authenticity and accuracy, in the 
depiction of what to us now seems the simpler times of just a few 
decades ago. One such piece, that was the result of his direction, was 
selected by the Census Bureau, in its desire to have minority oriented 
art, as the poster for the Virgin Islands. The painting was a work-in-
progress then entitled ``Good Day Ladies'', when first viewed by the 
Galibers. The new name ``Mr. Collins'', and other items of the painting 
were changed, to accurately correspond to names and events of the time.
  Dr. Galiber was the recipient of many honors, including the 
Distinguished Physician in 1986 by the Virgin Islands Medical Society 
and the American Cancer Society's Honoree in 1999.
  On June 9th of this year, the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and 
Medical Center conducted a dedication ceremony of the Andre A. Galiber, 
Sr., FACR, Radiology and Cardiovascular Laboratory Suite. The unit was 
dedicated in honor of his significant contributions to diagnostic 
imaging. He was also recognized at that ceremony for implementing the 
terminal digit filing system that is still used today. Some of his 
peers recognized that he single-handedly established the Radiology 
Departments at both the Charles Harwood and Juan Luis Hospitals and 
that due to him, the hospitals will soon have MRI capabilities. His 
legendary diagnostic skills were praised and appreciation was shown for 
the tireless work he performed in other areas of hospitals.
  His children consider themselves to be proud ``Virgin Islanders'' and 
claim that their father taught them to contribute their service to the 
West Indian community and to work together as a family. He encouraged 
them to develop their individual talents and actively fostered their 
personal development. He and his namesake, Andre Junior, won golf 
tournaments. Two others Dante and Cecile, played tennis at the Pan 
American Games. Lisa, a world renown fashion model, is multilingual and 
has a development consulting firm in San Diego. his daughter Cecile, a 
Banker and licensed realtor, heads the Financial Trust Company in St. 
Thomas.
  His wife of forty-four years, Edith Lewis Galiber, is a retired 
Director of Pubic Health Nursing in St. Croix. All four of his sons are 
involved in the field of medicine, one as a cardiologist, two are 
radiologist and the other is their business manager, and also a trained 
and registered Technologist in ultrasound.
  Dr. Andre Galiber's death on September 24, 2000, ended an illustrious 
life and work, but the contributions to his community, its culture and 
the field of Radiology live on.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute Dr. Andre A. Galiber for his dedicated service 
to his country, his profession and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. I thank his wife Edith, his seven children and fifteen 
grandchildren, for sharing him with us.

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