[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMMENDING THOMAS AND JOAN BURNS

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, for over 50 years, Thomas W. Burns, 
MD, and Joan F. Burns have served the University of Missouri-Columbia 
with great distinction. To honor this service, on April 27, 2007, the 
university will dedicate the Thomas W. and Joan F. Burns Center for 
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Research at the University of Missouri-
Columbia School of Medicine.
  Thomas W. Burns was one of the founding faculty members of MU's 
medical center, which opened in 1956 and graduated its first class of 
physicians in 1957. Since then, hundreds of physicians who trained 
under him have gone on to lead distinguished careers in medical care, 
education and research. MU's medical center has treated hundreds of 
thousands of patients from Missouri and beyond.
  Dr. Burns has been a pioneer in endocrinology and contributed greatly 
to MU's national reputation in diabetes care, prevention, and research. 
Dr. Burns was a key architect in establishing MU's Cosmopolitan 
International Diabetes and Endocrinology Center and for many years 
served as the center's founding director. The Cosmopolitan 
International Diabetes and Endocrinology Center established by Dr. 
Burns was the first public-private partnership at MU. Thousands of 
patients have received state-of-the-art care in Mid-Missouri as a 
result of Thomas W. Burns' tremendous contributions to medicine.
  Dr. Burns has received numerous awards from community, State and 
national organizations. The American College of Physicians, the largest 
internal medicine organization in the country, bestowed on him the 
title of ``Master,'' which is the ACP's highest academic honor, and 
presented him with the Laureate Award. Dr. Burns also received the 
University of Missouri Faculty-Alumni Award in 1986 and the University 
of Missouri Distinguished Faculty Award in 1992.
  Thomas and Joan Burns are leaders in recognizing that diabetes and 
cardiovascular disease are linked and that together the diseases 
constitute one of the most pressing health problems for Missouri and 
the Nation. Their contribution and legacy will allow MU to make 
potentially lifesaving advances in diabetes and cardiovascular 
research.

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