[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 112 (Monday, July 25, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. MAX HARRY WEIL

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to note 
the golden anniversary of an event that has saved thousands and 
thousands of lives.
  It was 50 years ago this year that the Institute of Critical Care 
Medicine was founded as a nonprofit public foundation at the University 
of Southern California School of Medicine.
  Thus was born the concept that life-threatened patients have a 
substantially better chance of survival if minute-to-minute care is 
provided by highly trained physicians and nurses in emergency rooms and 
in special intensive care, coronary care, and postoperative care units.
  This concept that dangerously ill patients have a better chance at 
recovery under the care of specially trained physicians and nurses in 
emergency rooms and intensive care units is standard today but it was 
revolutionary in 1961.
  Considered one of the fathers of critical care medicine who founded 
the Institute of Critical Care Medicine a half century ago, Dr. Max 
Harry Weil is also the founding president of the Weil Institute of 
Critical Care Medicine that continues to operate in Rancho Mirage, CA.
  My colleague, Senator Barbara Boxer would like to join me in 
recognizing Dr. Weil and his institute and offer our congratulations on 
a half century of medical success and best wishes on many more 
successful years to come.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague, Senator 
Nelson, in recognizing an extraordinary Californian who has done so 
much, not just to save lives in his community but to advance the 
practice of medicine in order to save lives around the world.
  Recognized as one of the fathers of critical care medicine, 50 years 
ago Dr. Weil cofounded the Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine, an 
international center for clinical education and research in Rancho 
Mirage, CA.
  The institute is renowned for conducting groundbreaking research into 
finding new ways of monitoring and dealing with life-threatening 
circulatory shock, heart failure, acute lung failure and infections.
  In addition to this impressive record, Dr. Weil led the institute's 
work in training members of the community in CPR, giving thousands of 
Californians the basic training they need to help save lives.
  I know that I join thousands of Californians and patients who have 
benefitted from Dr. Weil's work many of them without even knowing it in 
thanking him for his dedication and his service to our Nation.

                          ____________________