[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6819]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                 A LEADER IN CENTRAL VALLEY HEALTH CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, for the past 20 years, Saint Agnes Medical 
Center has been blessed by the presence of Sister Ruth Marie Nickerson. 
Since her arrival to Fresno in January of 1984, she has embraced her 
position as President and CEO of Saint Agnes Medical Center. Now, as 
Sister Ruth moves forward in her life-long commitment to help those 
people in most need, it is clear that she has left a lasting mark upon 
the Medical Center, as well as upon the entire Fresno community. During 
her tenure at Saint Agnes, employee size grew from 1,500 to its present 
size of 2,700. Several new wings and centers opened under her 
direction, including the California Eye Institute, the Cancer Center, 
the Heart and Vascular Center, and the medical center's East and North 
Wing expansions.
  In addition to these projects, Sister Ruth was also influential in 
the expansion of the Holy Cross Center for Women. At the women's 
center, she oversaw the establishment of the Gathering Place, a safe 
spot where children now learn and play; MaryHaven, an educational 
facility designed to teach women important life skills; and Naomi's 
House, an overnight respite for women.
  Beyond her position at the medical center, Sister Ruth Marie 
Nickerson serves on the board of many organizations, including the 
Fresno Business Council, Fresno Compact, Poverello House, and The 
California Endowment (TCE). She was also a past board chair of the 
Catholic Health Association of the USA, the Alliance of Catholic Health 
Care, and the Hospital Council of Northern & Central California. 
Currently, Sister Ruth serves as chair of the Regional Advisory Council 
of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.
  While these numerous projects and board positions are impressive and 
speak volumes of her commitment to providing quality health care to the 
people of the Central Valley, what is most notable about Sister Ruth 
Marie Nickerson is the warmth and compassion with which she conducts 
her daily activities. She possesses the distinct ability to bring 
people together to work for the good of the community, and she 
accomplishes such with both a kind heart and revered sense of humor.

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