[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING DRS. ORA AND MARK PESCOVITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to 
two outstanding Hoosiers, Drs. Ora and Mark Pescovitz who were recently 
recognized at the Indiana-Israel Dinner of State held in Indianapolis 
on September 18, 2005--sponsored by the State of Israel Bonds/
Development Corporation--for their years of dedicated service to the 
people of Indiana and to the State of Israel.
  Since 1951, the State of Israel Bonds/Development Corporation for 
Israel has issued securities in the name of the government of Israel 
for the development of every aspect of Israel's economy, including 
agriculture, commerce and industry. Israel Bonds has secured close to 
more than $26 billion in investment capital, and throughout its 
history, Israel has maintained a perfect record on the payment of 
principal and interest on the securities it has issued. From humble 
beginnings, Israel Bond has gone from a fledgling idea, to a powerful 
legacy of achievement; in the process becoming the financial bedrock 
upon which the modern State of Israel was built.
  This simple concept of investment in people and communities is also 
the bedrock upon which Drs. Ora and Mark Pescovitz have built their 
lives. Dr. Ora Pescovitz serves as an Executive Dean for Research at 
Indiana University School of Medicine as well as CEO and President of 
Riley Hospital for Children--the only comprehensive children's hospital 
in the state of Indiana, where thousands of patients and families 
travel to every year to seek diagnosis and treatment from one of 
Riley's many specialists. As if that weren't enough she has served on 
numerous committees of Endocrine Society and was chair of the 2002 
Annual Meeting Steering Committee, she has served as President of the 
Society for Pediatric Research--the nation's largest pediatric research 
organization--been on six journal editorial boards, and is currently 
serving as the President of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine 
Society, chair of the March of Dimes Grants Review Committee, and a 
member of the Ad-Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding.
  Dr. Ora has even found time to publish more than 170 manuscripts and 
books, including a recently published renowned textbook on Pediatric 
Endocrinology, and her awards and accolades are many including, a 
Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of 
Health, Indiana University School of Medicine's highest Teaching Award, 
and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Northwestern's Feinberg School 
of Medicine.
  Dr. Mark Pescovitz's contributions are just as impressive. He is 
currently serving as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of 
Surgery at Indiana University, and since 1988, he has been a member of 
the Division of Transplant Surgery. Dr. Mark is also actively involved 
in the transplant community in the U.S. and around the world, serving 
on many national and international committees--most recently the 
Executive Council of the United Network of Organ Sharing, the umbrella 
organization that regulates transplant organs--and lecturing on the 
subject worldwide.
  Dr. Mark is as prolific a researcher and writer as his wife, 
publishing over 200 articles in scientific journals and serving on the 
editorial boards of the three primary transplant journals. His primary 
research interests are new drugs to prevent transplant rejection and 
viral infections, but more recently he has combined his knowledge of 
immunology with that of diabetes and is directing a world-wide study 
designed to treat patients recently diagnosed with type-1 diabetes with 
the ultimate goal of eliminating their need for insulin. Dr. Mark 
Pescovitz is also famous for being the first doctor to perform a 
pancreas transplant for diabetes in Indiana--shortly after his arrival 
at Indiana University--essentially single-handedly creating the 
pancreas transplant program in the Department of Surgery at Indiana 
University.
  Over the years, Drs. Ora and Mark Pescovitz have also spent time 
nurturing their Indiana and Jewish roots, opening their home to host 
numerous events for the Jewish community including for the Maimonides 
Association, Beth-El Zedeck, the Hasten Hebrew Academy, NCJW, the Borns 
Center for Jewish Studies at Indiana University, Israel Bonds and the 
Jewish Federation. Dr. Mark is also a member of the board of the Jewish 
Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council, as well as a member 
of the boards of the Indianapolis Opera, the International Violin 
Competition of Indianapolis, and the Herron School of Art.
  Mr. Speaker, individually and together, the Pescovitzes' 
contributions to the United States, to the people of Indiana, and 
Indiana Jewish Community, and to the State of Israel represent the 
highest tradition of selfless public service, civic stewardship and 
commitment to others. Their praiseworthy efforts were recognized at the 
Northwest Indiana-Israel Dinner of State, and I ask my colleagues to 
join me now to commend and congratulate Drs. Ora and Mark Pescovitz for 
their outstanding achievements, and their lives of service.

                          ____________________