[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 20 (Monday, February 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DR. JAY PHILIP SANFORD

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, perhaps one of the best kept secrets in 
the American medical community can be found not far from this Chamber, 
the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences [USUHS], 
located in Bethesda, MD. For more than the past 20 years, this 
institution has trained in excess of 2,000 doctors who have gone on to 
serve our Nation either in one of the branches of the military, or in 
the Public Health Service. Without question, this university has 
greatly benefited the people and military personnel of the United 
States, and a tremendous debt is owed to the man who is known as the 
founding dean of this institution, Dr. Jay Philip Sanford. 
Unfortunately and sadly, Dr. Sanford passed away in October of last 
year.
  To those who willingly risk their lives in order to ensure the 
security of the United States, there is probably no more comforting 
thought than to know that should they be wounded, they will receive 
excellent medical care. Indeed, advances in military medicine have 
helped to ensure that our service personnel will have access to the 
very best possible treatment and care no matter where they are located 
or what the conditions in which they are carrying out their duties. 
Whether it be the rugged and frigid mountains of Bosnia, or the harsh 
and hot deserts of Kuwait and Iraq, American military personnel do not 
want for the most advanced and competent medical care available. 
Without question, the corps of military medical professionals who have 
graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health 
Sciences, and the research conducted at that facility, have a great 
deal to do with that success.
  The success of USUHS is directly attributable to the guidance and 
hard work of Dr. Sanford, who truly molded that university into the 
respected institution it has become. Established in 1972 at the 
direction of Congress, USUHS was to become a school that would prepare 
men and women for medical service careers in the Armed Forces and the 
U.S. Public Health Service. Not only creating a reliable source for 
military doctors, the university was to stress the instruction of the 
highly specialized fields of military medicine, preventive medicine, 
tropical medicine, and disaster medicine. It was the responsibility of 
Dr. Sanford to help build the university from the ground up, 
establishing curriculum, securing the necessary books and equipment 
required of a first-rate medical school, and ensuring that the first 
class of doctors would graduate from that school in 1980, as required 
by law. Dr. Sanford rose to the daunting challenge presented him, and 
in the finest traditions of the military, succeeded in achieving his 
mission and opening the doors of USUHS on schedule.
  For his many impressive achievements, as a doctor, a researcher, and 
an educator, Dr. Sanford was awarded no shortage of tributes and 
recognitions. Regrettably, space does not permit a complete recitation 
of all the accolades he was granted in his life, but I think my 
colleagues would be interested to know that his alma mater, the 
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School established the Jay P. 
Sanford Lectureship in Infectious Diseases, and the Jay P. Sanford 
Professorship; and, USUHS established the Sanford Chair in Tropical 
Medicine, as well as creating the Jay P. Sanford Distinguished Alumnus 
Award. Furthermore, in addition to serving as the third president of 
USUHS, Dr. Sanford was awarded the doctor of military medicine degree 
[Honoris Causa], the USUHS Distinguished Service Medal, and the 
Department of Defense Civilian Service Medal.
  Despite all these recognitions, one cannot help but think that the 
distinction of which Dr. Sanford was most proud would be the creation 
and success of the Uniformed Services University of the Health 
Sciences. In the years since the first class of doctors graduated from 
that school, USUHS trained physicians have supported American military 
operations throughout the world as well as have made many important 
contributions to the country through the Public Health Service. There 
is perhaps no greater legacy Dr. Sanford could have left than this 
institution which is dedicated to helping others. I do not exaggerate 
when I say that Dr. Sanford was a man who gave his all to our Nation 
and has left the United States a better place for his service. He will 
certainly be missed by all those who knew him, and his family has my 
deepest sympathies.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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