[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 58 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E726-E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF DONNELL D. ETZWILER, M.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the life and achievements of Donnell D. Etzwiler, M.D.
  My home state of Minnesota lost a true hero for people with diabetes 
on April 6 when Dr. Etzwiler passed away, but his legacy lives on. Dr. 
Etzwiler touched countless lives with his commitment to improving the 
quality of care for Americans with diabetes.
  A graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Etzwiler served 
for four decades as a pediatrician specializing in diabetes care at the 
Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis. He is perhaps best known as the 
founder of the International Diabetes Center (IDC) in Minnesota, where 
he served as President and Chief Medical Officer until 1996. The 
mission of the IDC is to ensure every person with diabetes or even at 
risk of developing diabetes receives the best possible care.
  Throughout Dr. Etzwiler's three decades of leadership, the IDC 
delivered on that promise. The IDC has trained over 20,000 health 
professionals, including hundreds from countries such as Brazil, 
Mexico, Japan, Poland and Russia. Because of his dedication to the 
children he cared for, the IDC organized and hosted the First 
International Symposium on Diabetes Camps in 1974. This important group 
helped establish standards and accreditation for diabetes camp 
programs.
  In 1976 and 1977, Dr. Etzwiler served as President of the American 
Diabetes Association. Later, he spent over twelve years as a Principal 
Investigator for the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial at the 
National Institutes of Health. This groundbreaking study demonstrated 
that keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible in 
people with diabetes slows the onset and progression of complications 
like eye, kidney and nerve disease.
  Dr. Etzwiler's commitment to improving diabetes care transcended 
national boundaries. He served as Chairman of the Diabetes 
Collaborating Centers for the World Health Organization. The Russian 
government officially recognized his work by awarding Dr. Etzwiler a 
Peace Award for co-founding and co-directing the International Diabetes 
Programme in Russia.
  Most recently, Dr. Etzwiler received the National Institute of Health 
Policy's Health Care Leadership Award for his outstanding record of 
service.
  As if all these landmark accomplishments were not enough to occupy 
his time, Dr. Etzwiler was also heavily involved in professional 
medical associations, serving in many leadership positions. He was a 
member of the Institute of Medicine. He received over 30 honors and 
awards from professional and civic organizations. He was a professor of 
medicine for over 40 years and published over 200 articles and 
abstracts about diabetes care.
  Dr. Etzwiler's commitment and compassion has literally saved and 
improved the lives of countless people across the globe, especially

[[Page E727]]

children with diabetes. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the millions of 
Americans with diabetes and their friends and family, I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Donnell D. 
Etzwiler.

                          ____________________