[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING DR. ROBERT D'ALESSANDRI, THE 2008 ``MAN OF THE YEAR'' 
         FOR THE COLUMBUS DAY ASSOCIATION OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2008

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Dr. Robert 
D'Alessandri, president and dean of the Commonwealth Medical College in 
Scranton, Pennsylvania, who was named ``Man of the Year'' by the 
Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County.
  Dr. D'Alessandri was selected to be the first president and dean of 
the fledgling medical college where he serves as chief executive 
officer and chief academic officer. He comes to northeastern 
Pennsylvania following 18 years of experience in senior leadership 
positions at West Virginia University including 15 years as dean of the 
WVU School of Medicine.
  Instrumental in expanding health professional programs at WVU and 
establishing programs in occupational medicine and public health, he 
was also involved in the development of the Strategic Research Plan at 
the WVU Health Sciences Center, a $54 million investment in biomedical 
research and economic development.
  Dr. D'Alessandri faces the enormous challenge of establishing the 
region's first medical college, the mission of which is to educate 
aspiring physicians and scientists to serve society using a community-
based, patient-centered, interprofessional and evidence-based model of 
education that promotes discovery and utilizes innovative techniques.
  The goal of the Commonwealth Medical College is to increase the 
number of physicians in northeastern Pennsylvania. During the next 20 
years, the facility is expected to add 425 practicing physicians to the 
region. It is also expected to add $70 million to the local economy 
once it opens and create 1,000 new jobs that directly and indirectly 
supports the facility's operations.
  Ultimately, the project intends to create a unique medical education 
experience that fosters collaboration among interdisciplinary team 
members, patient-centered care and improving the health of the regional 
population.
  A graduate of New York Medical College, Dr. D'Alessandri earned his 
MD in 1971. He did an internship at Metropolitan Hospital in New York 
and was a fellow at the University of Florida, Division of Infectious 
Diseases.
  He is board certified in infectious diseases and a diplomat of the 
American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member emeritus of the 
Association of American Medical Colleges and he served as chair of 
several committees. He was a member of the Accreditation Council for 
Graduate Medical Education Executive Committee and was Chairman in 
1995-96. He served on the advisory committee for the AHC/HASA Center 
for Interdisciplinary, Community-Based, Learning of the Association of 
Academic Health Centers and was on the Regional Policy Board of the 
American Hospital Association. Dr. D'Alessandri is well published on a 
variety of subjects and has received numerous honors and awards 
throughout his career.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Dr. D'Alessandri on 
this auspicious occasion. His selection as ``Man of the Year'' is a 
reflection of the respect with which he is held by the entire community 
and the high expectations the community has for the important mission 
he is leading.

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