"For the past 16 years I have watched the healthcare delivery system in this country deteriorate and I have seen the government become more and more intrusive, not just in the medical field, but in business as well. So I feel that now I am at the point in my life to take the time to try to do something about it since I have so much expertise in the medical profession that is not being shown in our current representation," said congressional candidate Dr. Marilyn O'Grady, who trained as a surgical opthamologist, running on the Republican/Conservative ticket in the 4th Congressional District.

Marilyn O'Grady, 4th District Congressional Candidate

O'Grady, who won her place on the ballot after a volatile primary race said, "We are inundated with taxes in this area and I would like, on a federal level, to address some of the tax issues that the average person faces." Some of her goals include lowering the federal tax, helping to extend the president's tax cuts, working for a cut in the capital gains tax and the elimination of the tax on Social security income..

"Further," she said, "I feel the first order of government is to protect the citizens from an outside attack and I would like to help support President Bush in his efforts to deal with the terrorist attacks."

O'Grady, a native Long Islander, is the youngest of five children, raised in the suburban community of Bellmore. She is the daughter of John Fitzgerald, a retired New York City Police Detective and her late mother Anita Hernandez, a homemaker. Because her father was a police officer she said that she learned at an early age about gun safety and to respect firearms.

"We always had guns in our home and we learned at an early age that guns were a serious weapon and not one of my siblings would ever, ever think of touching a gun or of picking up a gun and taking it to school."

She added, "When my dad retired he was most proud of the fact that in all of his years on the force he never had to use his gun."

O'Grady said, "I believe that honest, law-abiding citizens have a right to defend themselves which is what the Second Amendment stands for, your right to defend yourself. However, with any right there is a responsibility and we have a responsibility to make sure that those who use a gun with criminal intent are punished severely. We have to be diligent in checking so that no one with a criminal background is allowed to purchase a gun. We have to make sure that anyone who is mentally unstable is not allowed to purchase a gun and we have to make sure to protect society."

O'Grady attended St. Barnabas grammar school, Holy Trinity High School, in Hicksville and then St. John's Queens Campus where she received a bachelor of science degree in toxicology. She stayed at St. John's for two additional years on a teaching fellowship and received her master's degree in pharmacology/toxicology.

She then went to SUNY Downstate Medical College and received her medical degree and came back to Long Island to do her internship at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. She then returned to SUNY Downstate where she did her ophthalmology residency.

When she finished her ophthalmology residency, she was asked to stay on at SUNY Downstate and teach ophthalmology residents which she did for seven years. In addition, she opened a private practice in Garden City which she has maintained for 16 years.

Right now she is on the staff of Winthrop University Hospital and recently she was asked to join the staff of Nassau University Medical Center and to go back to teaching. She has complied with their request and is now teaching eye surgery to the interns at Nassau Medical Center.

She also taught at the Veterans Hospital in Northport and for five years taught the techniques of eye surgery to their interns. She added, "I have worked in federal hospitals, in county hospitals, in private hospitals and in city hospitals. I have done it all and I am thoroughly versed in the healthcare system and the need for change."

Because she feels that young adults are so apathetic about politics, O'Grady formed an offshoot of her campaign entitled Youth for O'Grady. The volunteer group consists of young professionals, college and high school students who believe Dr. Marilyn O'Grady in Congress will make a positive difference in their lives.

O'Grady also feels it is important to give back to the community and serves as a volunteer physician every Monday treating disadvantaged minorities at Rotary International's RotoCare clinic in Hempstead where she was named "Physician of The Year." She is also a long-time board member of the Long Island Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and works on key issues such as the legitimate role of religious institutions in the public arenas. She is an active member of the Nassau County Medical Society where she has always stressed the ethical obligation of professionals to perform community service.

O'Grady met her husband John while attending St. John's University. He is a dentist who also maintains a practice in Garden City. They have been married for 23 years and live in Garden City.