[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF MR. RICHARD S. CITRON, FACHE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 2010

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today 
to recognize the career of Mr. Richard Citron, who is retiring after 42 
years of federal service. Mr. Citron has developed a reputation of 
expertise in delivering state-of-the-art healthcare throughout his 38 
years working in Veterans Affairs, and his well-earned retirement will 
leave a void in the field.
  Mr. Citron has served as the Director of the Philadelphia Veterans 
Affairs Medical Center since August of 2007. Richard served in the 
United States Army from 1968 to 1971, and began his career in 
healthcare by working for a year at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in 
Chu Lai, Vietnam during the war. His career has taken him all over 
America, including stints as Assistant Director of the University Drive 
VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and terms as Director of 
both the Jesse Brown VAMC in Chicago, Illinois, and VAMC in Wilmington, 
Delaware. In addition to his nearly four decades working as a Veterans 
healthcare professional, Mr. Citron is a Fellow in the American College 
of Healthcare Executives, a defining credential for those in his 
profession.
  As Director of the Philadelphia VAMC, Richard oversaw operations of 
the medical facilities that serve the sixth largest metropolitan area 
in the nation, including the city of Philadelphia and surrounding six 
counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was responsible for a staff 
of more than 2,000 dedicated individuals working at the main campus in 
West Philadelphia and community-based outpatient clinics at Fort Dix, 
in Gloucester County and Camden, New Jersey, as well as Center City 
Philadelphia, and Horsham, Pennsylvania. Richard takes particular pride 
in the advancements made within the Behavioral Health and Women's 
programs instituted or strengthened during his time as Director at the 
Philadelphia VAMC.
  Having left an indelible legacy in Veterans healthcare, Richard can 
rest assured that we are indebted to him for his service to our 
country. I wish him the best in retirement, and thank him for his 
dedication to assisting those who have sacrificed so much in defense of 
this great nation.

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