[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. ROBERT C. ATKINS

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today I come to the floor to pay tribute 
to a great person, a long-time friend and a true pioneer, Dr. Robert C. 
Atkins. Dr. Atkins, cardiologist, physician, and author, among many 
other endeavors, passed away tragically on April 17 from injuries 
suffered in a fall in New York City.
  A leader in both natural medicine and nutritional pharmacology, Dr. 
Atkins majored in pre-med at the University of Michigan and then went 
on to receive his medical degree from the Cornell University Medical 
School in 1955. He was the founder of The Atkins Center for 
Complementary Medicine, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc, and cofounder and 
past president of the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative 
Medicine. But as accomplished as he was a physician and researcher, Dr. 
Atkins was best known for his controlled carbohydrate approach to 
weight management known as the ``Atkins Diet.''
  In addition to researching and developing what has become one of the 
leading weight control methods, Dr. Atkins also wrote 13 books, 
including ``Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution'' and ``Atkins for Life,'' 
both of which have been and remain on The New York Times bestseller 
list. His commitment to revolutionizing medicine and nutrition and 
determination to stand by his research led People magazine to name him 
one of the ``25 Most Intriguing People,'' and Time magazine to add him 
to their list of ``People Who Matter''.
  Dr. Atkins invested millions of his own money in the Dr. Robert C. 
Atkins Foundation, endowing institutions with the necessary funding for 
research and education.
  I knew Bob Atkins for many years. He was a good friend and we saw eye 
to eye on many important issues including dietary supplements, 
alternative medicine, and medical research. As the lead proponent in 
the formation the National Center for Complementary and Alternative 
Medicine, I was always grateful with Dr. Atkins tireless effort to 
educate law and policymakers. Dr. Atkins helped to bring national 
attention and credibility to complementary medicine as a serious and 
effective medical approach.
  Dr. Atkins will always be remembered for having the courage and 
foresight to challenge conventional wisdom on nutrition. His tireless 
efforts to point out ways to lose weight and prevent and manage 
diabetes and heart disease in ways conventional medicine had ignored or 
were unaware are irreplaceable and have forever changed how Americans, 
and the world, view nutrition, weight loss and diet. During his life he 
treated thousands of patients, including Members of Congress and their 
families.
  My condolences go out to his wife Veronica and mother Norma, and all 
the people who had the pleasure to work for and with him. His legacy 
and lifetime achievements will continue to guide policy makers and 
doctors around the world. Bob Atkins not only left a legacy of 
nutrition and health, but set an example for everyone to believe in 
themselves and to question establishment policies.
  Bob, we thank you and we miss you.

                          ____________________