[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2183-E2184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LAWRENCE A. SOLBERG, MD, PHD, FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE FIELD 
                 OF HEMATOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2011

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of Dr. Lawrence A. Solberg, a Floridian who has dedicated his 
professional life to biomedical research and medicine.
  Having published numerous articles in various publications and 
scientific journals and received professional recognition and honors 
from a number of organizations, Dr. Solberg has accomplished an 
extraordinary number of professional milestones and achievements.
  Dr. Solberg is a hematologist currently in the Division of 
Hematology-Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He 
also serves as Vice-Chair of the Research Operations Management Team 
and Chair of the Clinical Research Subcommittee of the Mayo Clinic in 
Florida. Dr. Solberg previously served as Director of the Blood and 
Marrow Transplantation Program of the Mayo Clinic in Florida. As 
Professor of Medicine in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Dr. 
Solberg has shown great commitment to educating our next generation of 
physicians and researchers, while continuing treatment of patients and 
his own research.
  Service to the greater community is another attribute of Dr. 
Solberg's career. This is reflected in his service as Chair of the 
Board of Directors of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for six 
years. Community Hospice of Northeast Florida is one of the largest 
non-profit hospices in the United States operating in 5 counties and 
serving up to 1000 patients, including 100 children, every day.
  For the past four years, Dr. Solberg has chaired the Committee on 
Practice of the American Society of Hematology and has led the 
Society's efforts to educate Members of Congress about hematology and 
issues of concern to practitioners, such as Medicare physician payment, 
reimbursement of chemotherapy drugs, and the importance of clinical 
trials. In this capacity, Dr. Solberg has visited with me and my staff 
to educate us about the critical issues facing hematologists and 
patients in Florida and throughout the United States. Dr. Solberg has 
advised the Food & Drug Administration about how to address the current 
shortages of life-saving drugs; and has served on both public and 
private sector panels addressing how to improve the quality of care for 
patients.
  Dr. Solberg is a superb advocate for his patients and his profession 
and his work has helped enhance the health and wellbeing of Floridians 
and all Americans. I am grateful for his lifetime contribution to field 
and practice of hematology.

[[Page E2184]]



                          ____________________