[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 19926-19927] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO ANDRE A. GALIBER, SR., MD ______ HON. DONNA MC CHRISTENSEN of virgin islands in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 27, 2000 Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Andre Anthony Galiber, Sr., who passed away this week. Dr. Galiber was a great leader of the medical profession, particularly in the field of Radiology, an ideal family man, an outstanding citizen and a great humanitarian in my district, the community of St. Croix and the entire U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Galiber earned his Medical Doctorate in 1957 and completed a diagnostic and therapeutic radiology residency in 1963. His distinctive medical career began with an internship at the Howard University's Freedmen's Hospital, here in Washington, D.C. He also served as a Captain in the U.S. Medical Corps and was the Chief Radiologist at Fort Benjamin Harrison Army Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Galiber opened his private Radiology office in 1967 and became the first full-time, board certified Radiologist, in the Virgin Islands. He was and remained the only regional Fellow of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Galiber became the Director of the Radiology Department at the Charles Harwood Hospital during the 1960's and 1970's, and became the Director of the Radiology Department when the hospital relocated to the new Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center, serving in that capacity until his ``so-called'' retirement in 1984. Dr. Galiber volunteered as a consultant at the new St. Croix Hospital and provided most of the technical training and professional services during the initial ten year growth period of clinical ultrasound. He performed and interpreted the first echocardiograms on St. Croix and was the first Radiologist licensed in Computer Tomography. He was a FDA accredited mammoradiologist and had been performing mammographys since he opened his practice in 1964. His untiring dedication to St. Croix was also directed at strengthening and advocating on behalf of the medical community. He was an active member of the Virgin Islands Medical Society for almost forty years, serving as President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate to the American Medical Association, as well as Delegate to the National Medical Association. Dr. Galiber also served as President of the Croix Hospital Medical staff, was an elected officer Virgin Islands Medical Institute and presented, coordinated and monitored seminars for his peers. He was also the principal supporter of advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities at the Governor Juan Luis Hospital. Recently, he drafted legislation that was proposed by the Virgin Islands Medical Institute, to encourage Virgin Islands physicians training in the United States, to become licensed in the Territory. Most notably, he was a mentor and ardent supporter of students pursuing health science careers, of which I was one. Hurricane Hugo introduced several generations of Virgin Islanders to the devastation a hurricane could inflict. While most of the populace remained stunned in the aftermath, Dr. Galiber salvaged his radiological equipment, established electrical power and a safe habitat for essential medical operations and within nine days after the hurricane had passed, he was essentially ready to provide services to his patients. Dr. Galiber was a charter member of the St. Croix Power Squadron. He became a trustee for most of the schools on the island of St. Croix including St. Mary's Catholic School, Country Day School, Good Hope School and St. Dunstan's Episcopal School. Dr. Galiber was also the chairperson of the St. Croix Continuing Medical Education Committee which [[Page 19927]] certified all eligible programs to do post-graduate training for physicians, and a member of the Eta lota lota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Galiber in 1974 became the Project Development Coordinator/Secretary Treasurer, of the first Medical Office Condominium in the Virgin Islands. He was one of seven owners of Medical offices in Island Medical Center Associates, and supervised the management of the entire complex along with managing and practicing his own radiology office at the same time. Dr. Galiber was an avid reader of non-fiction and a history buff of World War II, greatly admiring the deeds of Winston Churchill. For recreation he enjoyed golf, tennis, traveling, dancing, and classical music. He and his wife were Members of Friends of Denmark, an organization that strives to maintain the links established by more than two centuries of Danish rule. He and his wife also joined the Landmark Society, which preserves and promotes the various influences in our unique architecture that has developed over the centuries, and our local cultural traditions. He was also a member of the Virgin Islands Lung Association and the St. George's Botanical Garden. Dr. and Mrs. Galiber were also collectors of original art by local artists even collaborating in commissioning many of the items he eventually bought. He insisted on authenticity and accuracy, in the depiction of what to us now seems the simpler times of just a few decades ago. One such piece, that was the result of his direction, was selected by the Census Bureau, in its desire to have minority oriented art, as the poster for the Virgin Islands. The painting was a work-in- progress then entitled ``Good Day Ladies'', when first viewed by the Galibers. The new name ``Mr. Collins'', and other items of the painting were changed, to accurately correspond to names and events of the time. Dr. Galiber was the recipient of many honors, including the Distinguished Physician in 1986 by the Virgin Islands Medical Society and the American Cancer Society's Honoree in 1999. On June 9th of this year, the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center conducted a dedication ceremony of the Andre A. Galiber, Sr., FACR, Radiology and Cardiovascular Laboratory Suite. The unit was dedicated in honor of his significant contributions to diagnostic imaging. He was also recognized at that ceremony for implementing the terminal digit filing system that is still used today. Some of his peers recognized that he single-handedly established the Radiology Departments at both the Charles Harwood and Juan Luis Hospitals and that due to him, the hospitals will soon have MRI capabilities. His legendary diagnostic skills were praised and appreciation was shown for the tireless work he performed in other areas of hospitals. His children consider themselves to be proud ``Virgin Islanders'' and claim that their father taught them to contribute their service to the West Indian community and to work together as a family. He encouraged them to develop their individual talents and actively fostered their personal development. He and his namesake, Andre Junior, won golf tournaments. Two others Dante and Cecile, played tennis at the Pan American Games. Lisa, a world renown fashion model, is multilingual and has a development consulting firm in San Diego. his daughter Cecile, a Banker and licensed realtor, heads the Financial Trust Company in St. Thomas. His wife of forty-four years, Edith Lewis Galiber, is a retired Director of Pubic Health Nursing in St. Croix. All four of his sons are involved in the field of medicine, one as a cardiologist, two are radiologist and the other is their business manager, and also a trained and registered Technologist in ultrasound. Dr. Andre Galiber's death on September 24, 2000, ended an illustrious life and work, but the contributions to his community, its culture and the field of Radiology live on. Mr. Speaker, I salute Dr. Andre A. Galiber for his dedicated service to his country, his profession and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. I thank his wife Edith, his seven children and fifteen grandchildren, for sharing him with us. ____________________