[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10811-10812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. FAUST ALVAREZ

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I announce to the Senate that 
after 24 years as chief of staff for the VA Montana Health Care System, 
Dr. Faust M. Alvarez, MD, has decided to retire. Dr. Alvarez was 
appointed chief of staff in August 1986 and continued in that position 
until April 30, 2010. He began his career as a staff physician at Fort 
Harrison Medical Center in 1984. Prior to joining the VA system he was 
engaged in private practice in the city of Helena for 12 years. During 
this time he founded and directed the first Montana hemodialysis unit 
and renal program at St. Peter's Hospital.
  When Dr. Alvarez became the chief of staff at the VA, he sought to 
provide Montana's veterans with a high quality standard of care, and to 
provide easier access to medical services. These were challenging goals 
given that the VA Montana Health Care System has only one hospital and 
Montana is the fourth largest State geographically. Furthermore Montana 
has the second largest per capita veteran populations in the country. 
Through hard work and dedication, he and his staff have achieved these 
goals and have made the VA Montana Health Care System what it is today.
  In 1988 Dr. Alvarez began expanding services for veterans by creating 
satellite clinics. The first clinics were

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opened in Anaconda and Kalispell. Today the VA Montana Health Care 
System has a presence in every major city in the state through 12 
satellite outpatient facilities. Three of these facilities have 
telemedicine access and more are to be activated.
  Through Dr. Alvarez's leadership and the hard working personnel of VA 
Montana, the VA Montana Medical System has been recognized on numerous 
occasions for its quality medical services. In 2005 the VA Montana was 
selected as the Nation's VA hospital of the year. Dr. Alvarez believes 
that Montana's veterans should expect and receive the highest quality 
medical care and services, and he has strived to ensure this 
expectation is met. By hiring board certified medical personnel, 
acquiring new state of the art equipment and incorporating current 
medical trends into the provision of healthcare services at VA Montana, 
Dr. Alvarez, and his staff, have made the VA Montana Health Care System 
the facility of choice for veterans across the State.
  I thank Dr. Alvarez for his dedicated years of service. We are all 
proud of his accomplishments at VA Montana and the positive affect that 
the VA has had across the State during his tenure. I appreciate his 
initiative and hard work to continually improve medical services for 
Montana's veterans and to ensure our veterans receive appropriate care. 
I am certain that those who come after will maintain the same level of 
commitment and leadership.
  Dr. Alvarez is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, an 
honorary designation recognizing scholarly and professional 
achievements in internal medicine. Dr. Alvarez was appointed by various 
Governors of the State of Montana to the State Board of Medical 
Examiners where he served for a total of 18 years.
  Dr. Alvarez is retired from the U.S. Army Reserve where he served as 
a colonel and regional flight surgeon. He was also State medical 
commander for the Montana National Guard as well as flight surgeon to 
the 189th Aviation Battalion. During his service he received multiple 
decorations, including five Commendation Medals and five Meritorious 
Service Medals. Upon retirement, he received the Legion of Merit for 
exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding 
services and achievements.
  Dr. Alvarez and his wife of 43 years, Marie, have been dedicated to 
and are actively involved in the Helena community. They created the Dr. 
Faust M. & Marie Alvarez Scholarship in 1975. It is awarded annually to 
a deserving Carroll College student demonstrating academic integrity 
and financial need majoring in biology or a health-field program. Dr. 
Alvarez has also served as a member of the Regional Airport Board and 
as a senior FAA medical examiner. Both he and Marie are pilots. He also 
enjoys restoring classic automobiles and building fine wood furniture. 
He has five daughters and four grandchildren.
  Dr. Alvarez has been an outstanding civil servant. I thank him for 
his service and what he has done for Montana's veterans. I wish him and 
his wife the best in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________