[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6880-6881]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF GENE MARIE O'CONNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, for more than a decade, Gene Marie 
O'Connell has faithfully served the city we share as CEO of San 
Francisco General Hospital, the city's primary safety-net hospital. 
Under her skilled and passionate leadership, San Francisco General 
achieved designation as a level one trauma center, the only one of its 
kind serving San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. Additionally, 
the hospital received the notable distinction of ``certified stroke 
center'' and has

[[Page 6881]]

been deemed ``baby friendly'' by the World Health Organization--the 
only health care facility in the Bay Area with that designation.
  Gene Marie's own accomplishments are nearly as impressive as those of 
the hospital she serves so well. In 2007 she was named chair of the 
National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, an 
organization that represents more than 100 health systems nationwide. 
Ever cognizant of the needs of public hospitals and those they serve, 
Gene Marie made it a priority for the organization to improve the 
quality of patient care and to secure adequate Medicare and Medicaid 
funding.
  Gene Marie has further devoted her time and talents to the medical 
field as a board member of the National Public Health & Hospital 
Institute, the branch that handles the national association's research 
initiatives. Her achievements attest to her steadfast devotion to 
providing exceptional medical care and treatment while seeking 
solutions to the field's most pressing issues.
  As we both know, Madam Speaker, healthcare is an ever-changing arena. 
Despite this, Gene Marie's tireless dedication to the field and her 
genuine desire to positively impact the lives of those in need has 
remained constant. Such attributes attest to the magnitude of her 
influence on patients, co-workers, and members of the medical community 
who have benefited from her devoted care and faithful service.
  Bolstering a personal philosophy that emphasizes the importance of 
compassion and support, Gene Marie has proved indispensible in all the 
positions she has held. Prior to her post as CEO of San Francisco 
General, she served as the hospital's chief operating officer, the 
senior associate administrator for clinical services, the director of 
emergency services, and the director of staff development, research, 
quality assurance, and discharge planning. The incredible breadth of 
her experience in the medical field also includes time spent as the 
director of patient care services at the Department of Public Health's 
Community Health Network.
  Madam Speaker, the astounding accomplishments of Gene Marie O'Connell 
make us all proud. Through her leadership, San Francisco General has 
risen to the top of public hospitals and her initiatives guarantee that 
it will continue to be an innovative and compassionate member of our 
community. She has left an indelible mark on the hospital and all those 
it serves and her efforts ensure its persistent growth and prominence. 
Our community owes her a debt of gratitude and special thanks go to her 
supportive husband, Joel Hurwitz, and children, Tanya and Thorin, for 
sharing this very special woman with all of us.

                          ____________________