[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF DR. J. MICHAEL BISHOP

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2009

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, when Dr. J. Michael Bishop retired as 
Chancellor of UCSF on June 30, 2009, our premier research institution 
lost not only its leader, but one of the greatest minds ever to serve 
at its helm.
  In 1989, Dr. Bishop was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or 
Medicine for his advancements in understanding the origins of cancer. 
His groundbreaking discovery of proto-oncogenes--genes that can be 
converted to cancer genes by genetic damage--revolutionized the way 
medical professionals looked at the detection and treatment of cancer.
  He has received numerous other distinguished honors including the 
National Medal of Science and an appointment as Chair of the National 
Cancer Advisory Board created by President Bill Clinton.
  This is all the more remarkable when you learn that Dr. Bishop's 
education began in a two-room school in Pennsylvania where the science 
curriculum was limited to the collection and pressing of flowers. True 
to his humble nature, he asked that he receive no special recognition 
on his retirement, but nonetheless, our community and our nation owe an 
immense debt of gratitude to Dr. Bishop.
  During the ten years he served as Chancellor of UCSF, Dr. Bishop 
oversaw monumental achievements and growth to an already distinguished 
institution. The construction of the Mission Bay campus will result in 
57.5 acres focused on innovative ideas from scholars and scientists.
  Madam Speaker, I met Dr. Bishop when he first became Chancellor and 
was immediately struck by his humility, his engaging personality and 
his ability to explain science to audiences at every level. He 
exemplifies everything that is exceptional about UCSF--leadership, 
innovative thinking, and a commitment to public service through 
research and medical advancements.
  Dr. Bishop has focused a great deal on creating an environment that 
emphasizes a balance between the personal and professional. This is 
without a doubt the result of his marriage to the love of his life, 
Kathryn Ione Putman and their two sons, Dylan Michael Dwight and Eliot 
John Putman.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Bishop is no longer in the Chancellor's office, 
but without a doubt, his legacy as an educator, scientist, Nobel Prize 
winner, and cancer researcher will be felt for generations at UCSF and 
around the world.

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