[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E243-E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JUDAH FOLKMAN, MD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2008

  Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the work and to mourn the 
loss of Judah Folkman, doctor and teacher, a brilliant scientist, a 
devoted clinician, an inspiring mentor. I am privileged to represent 
great universities, research institutes, and teaching hospitals and the 
men and women who make them great. Many of my constituents inspire the 
world's admiration and respect. Their work has assuaged suffering and 
prolonged lives and earned the heartfelt thanks of all they have 
helped. None to my knowledge are loved as Judah Folkman was loved, by 
his colleagues, students, and patients. The most fitting tribute seems 
that given by his friend and colleague, Dr. James Mandell, president 
and CEO of Children's Hospital Boston, which I here enter into the 
Record:

       Judah's wife said she was sorry for giving me this burden, 
     to speak on behalf of the medical and academic community at 
     his memorial service. It is actually a sorrowful joy to 
     remember him on behalf of so many. I must also tell you 
     however that despite the fact I have had so many speaking 
     opportunities in my career, I've never been so worried about 
     getting it right.
       It just isn't possible to sum up the life and work of Judah 
     Folkman in these words, in such a short time. He was larger 
     than life in so many ways, to so many of us.
       On a personal note--Judah and I were colleagues for a very 
     long time. He was a generous mentor and wise guide to a young 
     urology trainee 30 years ago when I shared an office in his 
     administrative suite. I learned by his example. He treated 
     every parent with unequaled kindness and respect and every 
     child with patience and tenderness. When I returned to start 
     the urology research program effort, he was there for me. 
     When I went to Albany as dean of the Medical College, he was 
     my first commencement speaker. And when I returned in 2000, 
     he and Paula welcomed Val and me as neighbors. In fact, Val 
     mentioned to Paula that perhaps if we walked to work 
     together, my IQ might go up.
       His contribution to science, to medicine, and the world, 
     are far too vast to enumerate here. We have all heard and 
     seen tributes to him in every form of media all over the 
     world in the last week.
       As a result of his vision and persistence, people all over 
     the world are benefiting from his discoveries.

[[Page E244]]

       Today, more than 1,000 laboratories worldwide are engaged 
     in the study of angiogenesis. A million patients worldwide 
     are now receiving anti-angiogenesis therapy for cancer and 
     macular degeneration, and there are more than 50 angiogenic 
     inhibitors in clinical trials.
       But Judah envisioned a day when people would have an annual 
     blood test to screen for biomarkers of malignant diseases and 
     if evidence of early stage, yet undetectable disease was 
     found, they would be given nontoxic, angiogenic inhibitors to 
     prevent disease from occurring. He said that location 
     wouldn't matter. It would be just like heart disease, where 
     statins are given for control of biologic markers of future 
     disease like cholesterol.
       What a vision, Judah.
       I thought you'd be here to see it.
       Judah was honored by societies and foundations all over the 
     world. The walls of his conference room on Karp 12 are lined 
     with them. His awards were incredible in depth and breadth, 
     including one he was particularly proud of--the Helen Keller 
     award for his work in the prevention and treatment of 
     blindness.
       He was a member of nearly every medical society, yet he was 
     particularly proud of the fact that he was inducted as an 
     honorary member of the Academic Society of Black Surgeons.
       He wrote more than 400 original publications and over 100 
     book chapters himself, but it was with such great joy that he 
     brought over to my office a couple of months ago a book he 
     didn't author or edit. It was the first clinical textbook 
     teaching clinicians about how to treat cancer with angiogenic 
     inhibitors.
       As I look around this room, I see, however, what will be 
     his most lasting legacy. It is a living testament to one of 
     his greatest gifts--his unique ability to recognize and 
     cultivate talent and brilliance in others.
       He grew the program for vascular biology from the surgical 
     research program at Children's, starting with one-half of a 
     floor of the Enders Research Building. He expanded and 
     nurtured it with devotion, commitment, and love. He was 
     always in my office, lobbying hard for more space and ended 
     up with two entire floors in the Karp Family Research 
     Building.
       But more importantly, he had this gift of mentoring his 
     staff in a way that is unequaled by anyone I have ever known. 
     His work will continue in the hands of the incredible talent 
     in vascular biology in the program he built.
       It consoles me to some extent that the work Judah started 
     with a singular, seminal glimmer of an idea more than 40 
     years ago will continue to thrive, grow, and succeed in their 
     hands.
       Judah's lasting legacy will continue to extend far beyond 
     our walls, improving the lives of millions of people around 
     the world.
       Farewell, our friend, and thank you.

                          ____________________