[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO NORMAN M. RICH, M.D.

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to Dr. Norman 
M. Rich, M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, F. Edward 
Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the 
Health Sciences--USUHS. This week, on March 26, 2004, Dr. Rich will 
mark the end of his 44-year career in Federal service.
  Dr. Rich's Federal career began in the U.S. Army where he served for 
20 years as a career officer and physician from 1960 through 1980. As a 
military surgeon with academic interests in the management of injured 
patients and vascular surgery, he earned international recognition; his 
military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the 
Meritorious Service Award and Vietnam Medals.
  Dr. Rich was appointed as the Founding Chairman of the USUHS School 
of Medicine's Department of Surgery in August of 1977 and held that 
position until October of 2002. For the past 16 months, he has 
continued to serve as an advisor and mentor to the Acting Department 
Chairman.
  As Founding Chairman, Dr. Rich was faced with the difficult task of 
establishing a Department of Surgery at a university where the campus 
had not yet been constructed. From the outset, Dr. Rich and his 
considerable reputation gave credibility to the newly established 
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and enabled the 
recruitment of a competent faculty for its new Department of Surgery. 
He utilized his collaborative relationships, both nationally and 
internationally, to strengthen his department's curricula and lectures 
and thereby provided a military and academically unique environment for 
the over 3,400 USUHS medical school graduates and thousands more future 
uniformed medical students.
  Dr. Rich can take pride in having developed an academically sound 
curriculum, recruiting competent faculty with military unique 
expertise, meeting the initial and on-going accreditation requirements 
for the School of Medicine, and creating a sound national and global 
reputation for the university. His efforts have aided the School of 
Medicine in attaining full accreditation and he has helped shape USUHS 
graduates into what the Secretary of Defense has dubbed ``the backbone 
of the Military Health System.'' Indeed, his efforts are reflected in 
the continued success of USUHS and its graduates and in the continued 
health of the millions of uniformed personnel and their families who 
have benefited from his extraordinary expertise.
  During the course of his career, Dr. Rich has published over 300 
manuscripts and authored or co-authored five books. Among these is the 
internationally recognized ``Vascular Trauma.'' He has served on 10 
editorial boards, including the major peer-reviewed journals focusing 
upon his specialty. His recent awards include: the 2003 National Safety 
Council Surgeons' Award for Distinguished Service in Safety presented 
by the American College of Surgeons, the American Association for the 
Surgery of Trauma, and the National Safety Council; recognition as a 
Citizen & Apothecary of London in 2001; and, the J.E. Wallace Sterling 
Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award from the Stanford Medical Alumni 
Association.
  Our Nation can be proud of Dr. Rich's long and distinguished career 
of service and I am pleased to join with his family, friends and 
colleagues in expressing appreciation for the significant contributions 
he has made to the health of the uniformed services and that of all 
citizens. I certainly wish him continued success and happiness in the 
years to come.

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