[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14074-14075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF DR. JUDITH A. RYAN

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, on July 2, 2003, after many years of 
service, Dr. Judith A. Ryan of Sioux Falls, SD, will retire from her 
position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. Today I want to congratulate Dr. Ryan 
on her upcoming retirement and thank her for her many years of service.
  The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society began partnering with 
church leaders in small, rural communities in the early 1920s, 
responding to the call to care for vulnerable populations--those who 
had no other options for care and no one to care for them. Today, the 
Good Samaritan Society, headquartered in Sioux Falls, owns or manages 
facilities in 25 States, employs 24,000 staff members, and serves more 
than 28,000 residents.
  I thank Dr. Ryan for her sterling management of this wonderful 
organization. Her long career as a health executive is distinguished by 
her commitment to excellence and her untiring efforts on behalf of 
America's senior population. South Dakota has been fortunate to have 
such an advocate and leader.
  Dr. Ryan's career is impressive. Prior to assuming her position as 
CEO of the Nation's largest not-for-profit long-term care and 
retirement system, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the

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American Nurses Association; Senior Vice President of Lutheran General 
Health System in Park Ridge, IL; Associate Director of the University 
of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and Associate Dean for the University of 
Iowa College of Nursing.
  Recognized for her work in the field of long-term health care, Dr. 
Ryan earned international recognition and was invited by the Danish 
Nurses Association to learn about emerging models of care in rural 
communities. Upon her return, she shared her insights at the National 
Rural Health Association's Annual Conference. Her presentation at that 
conference was entitled, ``A Call for Renaissance: The Small Town as 
Continuous Care Retirement Community.''
  Dr. Ryan has served on numerous public policy and professional boards 
and recently participated as a member of the Health and Human Services 
Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform. The committee made 
recommendations to the Secretary regarding potential regulatory changes 
that would reduce costs associated with departmental regulations and at 
the same time, maintain or enhance effectiveness, efficiency, impact, 
and accessibility.
  Dr. Ryan's past achievements and continuing interests provide 
evidence of her commitment to excellence and her advocacy on issues 
facing the elderly and their caregivers. I join her many friends and 
professional colleagues in extending thanks for her previous work and 
best wishes for her next endeavor.

                          ____________________