[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25049]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO BARBARA MESSIER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Barbara 
Messier for her record of extraordinary service to New York's Tenth 
Congressional District.
  Barbara Messier, born in Canton, Ohio, graduated from the St. Luke 
Nursing School in Cleveland and began her nursing career in the Apple 
Creek State Hospital. While at Apple Creek, she first got experience in 
psychiatric nursing, working under a group of extraordinary leaders in 
the field. She continued her work in psychiatric nursing after moving 
to New York, working with Dr. Jochanan Weisenfreund at St. John's 
Episcopal Hospital and later at the Interfaith Medical Center.
  Mrs. Messier was instrumental in revitalizing Interfaith's Department 
of Psychiatry from an unlicensed, 25-bed inpatient unit, to a full 
fledged, top-quality department. As the Assistant Vice President of the 
Department of Psychiatry, she is also responsible for Bedford-
Stuyvesant Community Mental Health Center's programs, serving patients 
in a variety of innovative capacities. She also serves as the Clerk of 
Session at the Oceanside Presbyterian Church, and teaches adult Bible 
classes there.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Barbara 
Messier.

                          ____________________