News
For Immediate Release
October 2, 2007 |
Contact: George Goodno
(202) 457-0654 |
Foundation for Biomedical
Research Board Chairman Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
Washington, DC – The Foundation for Biomedical
Research (FBR) congratulates Congress for today voting to
award Dr. Michael E. DeBakey the highest civilian honor it
can bestow, the Congressional Gold Medal.
“Dr. DeBakey’s unparalleled contributions to
cardiovascular medicine have improved the health of millions
of American citizens and people around the world. His extraordinary
talents as a surgeon, inventor, educator and medical statesman
make him a true medical legend,” said Frankie Trull,
president of FBR.
DeBakey, who has been chairman of FBR’s board of directors
since 1985, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from
President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1969. In recognition of his
life-saving achievements, Dr. DeBakey has been honored numerous
times with hundreds of awards, including the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the Legion of Merit from the United States
Army, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award, the Lasker Award
and the Presidential National Medal of Science. He has been
honored by kings and queens, and virtually every U.S. president
since Harry Truman has sought the wisdom of “the maestro.”
His many inventions and innovations have led to pioneering
treatments and innovative surgical techniques used in operating
rooms around the country every day. The first successful coronary
bypass, performed by DeBakey in 1964, triggered the most explosive
era in modern cardiac surgery. Two years later, he made medical
history again by becoming the first person to successfully
use a partial artificial heart (left ventricular bypass pump)
to help patients who could not be weaned from a heart-lung
machine following open-heart surgery.
“On behalf of FBR’s Board of Directors, I extend
my congratulations and my gratitude to Congress for recognizing
the many achievements of this very extraordinary man, who
has made enormous contributions to the health and well-being
of Americans and, indeed, of all mankind,” said Trull.
“He epitomizes the true purpose and meaning of the Congressional
Gold Medal.”
The bill approved by both houses of Congress (S. 474) will
now go before President Bush for signature.
FBR is the nation’s foremost organization devoted
to promoting public understanding, respect, and support for
the humane and responsible use of animals in medical and scientific
research. For more information on FBR, please visit its Web
site at www.fbresearch.org.
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