[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1410
        RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING CAREER OF DR. JOHN W. BECHER

  (Mr. HECK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
career of Dr. John W. Becher, or ``Chief'' as he was called by scores 
of medical residents, an osteopathic physician who has dedicated his 
life to his patients, his students, and to the improvement of the 
medical profession.
  Dr. Becher's commitment to the field of emergency medicine spans more 
than 30 years. As professor and chairman of the Department of Emergency 
Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he has 
helped countless students and residents, myself included, develop their 
skills and become an essential part of our health care workforce.
  As a young resident at Albert Einstein Medical Center, I was 
fortunate to have Dr. Becher's insight and guidance as my residency 
director. His dedication to emergency medicine was evident then, and 
his understanding of the osteopathic profession was invaluable to my 
training and to my career.
  His involvement in the field of osteopathic medicine is unparalleled. 
In addition to his work at PCOM, he currently serves as the secretary 
treasurer of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners and is 
a member of the board of trustees for the American Osteopathic 
Association.
  He was a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the American 
Osteopathic Association for nearly 20 years, and he is the past 
president of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians--
and these are only some of his accomplishments. His never-ending 
contributions and service to his profession and his patients have 
rightly been recognized, most recently by the awarding of the O.J. 
Snyder Memorial Medal.
  Dr. Becher's lifelong commitment to patient care and to the 
excellence of future physicians serves as a powerful legacy to the 
field of emergency medicine. I consider myself fortunate to have 
learned under his leadership, and it is an honor to recognize his 
achievements.
  Chief, my sincere congratulations on your well-deserved retirement.

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