[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16837]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I join with President Bush and Project 
Hope in commending the extraordinary work of the health professionals 
from Massachusetts General Hospital who dropped everything and went to 
Indonesia in January and February to provide medical care to survivors 
of the tsunami disaster. I especially commend Dr. Laurence Ronan, the 
group leader at MGH who did so much to organize the trip.
  These dedicated health professionals answered the urgent call when 
the disaster struck. As in the past when earthquakes devastated 
Armenia, and El Salvador, and Iran, they volunteered their services and 
skills on the USS Mercy, the Navy hospital ship sent to the coast of 
Indonesia.
  Massachusetts General Hospital sent the largest health team. More 
than 60 doctors, nurses, and social workers each spent a month helping 
on cases too complex to be treated by personnel already on the ground 
in Indonesia. They had expertise in critical medical specialties such 
as neurology, burns, lung disease, kidney disease, and pediatrics, and 
they provided care to hundreds devastated by the tsunami.
  Massachusetts is very very proud of MGH and the extraordinary health 
professionals being honored today. Their dedication and caring have 
served America and the world well.

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