[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CHAMPIONING THE GIFT OF LIFE

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dr. 
R. Gordon Douglas, Jr., President of the Vaccine Division of Merck & 
Co., Inc. as he prepares for his retirement after decades of 
distinguished service. As a leader in one of New Jersey's largest 
pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Douglas has been responsible for the 
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of Merck's vaccine 
line. In addition to his responsibilities at Merck, Dr. Douglas has 
helped improve the lives of thousands of people throughout the world 
through his leadership roles in his company's and the State's blood 
drives.
  In 1998, Dr. Douglas encouraged over 3,400 Merck employees in New 
Jersey to give the life-saving gift of blood. He took a significant 
leadership role with the New Jersey Blood Services by chairing the 
Blood Donor Campaign in 1997-1998 and encouraging colleagues in other 
corporations to increase their blood drive efforts. Under his 
leadership, the Merck Blood Drive Program received the America's Blood 
Centers 1999 Platinum Award, the highest blood drive award given by the 
Nation's largest network of independent, community blood centers.
  Dr. Douglas has served as a physician, academician, and world-class 
leader in the fight against infectious diseases. As a graduate of 
Cornell University Medical School, he has served as a clinical 
investigator at the National Institute of Health, a member of the 
faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine, and the School of Medicine 
at the University of Rochester, and later returned to Cornell as 
Chairman of the Department of Medicine in the Medical College before 
beginning his career at Merck.
  In a career marked by many valuable achievements, I am pleased today 
to highlight Dr. Douglas' contributions to New Jersey and 
society.

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