[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 139 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING BIPARTISAN INITIATIVE 21ST CENTURY CURES AND JAMES O. 
                            WOOLLISCROFT, MD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 14, 2014

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I joined my Energy and 
Commerce Committee colleague Diana DeGette of Colorado in launching a 
bipartisan initiative called 21st Century Cures, which is taking the 
first-ever comprehensive look at the cures process here in the United 
States--from discovery to development to delivery. Our goal is to help 
bring lifesaving treatments, devices, and therapies to patients faster 
and ensure our nation's laboratories and manufacturers remain global 
leaders in medical innovation.
  Our initiative has fostered a nationwide dialogue, bringing together 
the brightest minds in the field of public health. One of Michigan's 
health leaders has been a part of that conversation from the very 
beginning, taking part in our first Cures roundtable on May 6: Dr. 
James O. Woolliscroft, MD, dean of the University of Michigan Medical 
School.
  I recently had the opportunity to speak with some of the nation's top 
health researchers about the cutting-edge work being done in their 
laboratories at the University of Michigan. The scientific discoveries 
being made there are truly incredible and will ultimately help save 
untold American lives. The work being done within the University of 
Michigan Health System and at the U-M Medical School in particular is 
in no small part thanks to the visionary leadership of Dr. 
Woolliscroft.
  Dr. Woolliscroft was recently recognized by the Association of 
American Medical Colleges (AAMC) with its highest honor: the Abraham 
Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education.
  Dr. Woolliscroft has been a national leader in medical education for 
more than three decades, since joining the U-M medical faculty in 1980. 
He has served the school in several capacities until becoming dean in 
2007, with a focus on transforming the curriculum to train our next 
generation of medical leaders.
  In the words of one of his AAMC nominators, Dr. Woolliscroft ``has 
been consistently ahead of his time and often prophetic about the 
trends in medical education.'' He was among the first to advocate 
moving the paradigm of medical education from the acquisition of 
knowledge to performance-based metrics. Likewise, Dr. Woolliscroft was 
among the first to champion medical student training in community 
settings. Through his tireless efforts, these have become the new 
standards in medical education. And like all great teachers, Dr. 
Woolliscroft not only imparts knowledge, but inspires others through 
his passion for educating.
  The discoveries being made in the life sciences astound and amaze, 
opening up opportunities for therapies, treatments, and care never 
before possible. Thanks to the leadership of individuals like Dr. 
Woolliscroft, the United States will continue to lead the world in 
providing the highest level of patient care and medical training.

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