[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 29 (Monday, February 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL DAVID G. McLEOD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NEAL P. DUNN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 15, 2021

  Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of 
Colonel (Doctor) (Retired) David G. McLeod, who passed away on December 
18, 2020. I know the thoughts of many thousands of military medical 
officers, protegees, surgical colleagues, and patients are with the 
McLeod family, especially his wife of 55 years, Claudia, their 
children, David Jr. and Ayvette Sailer, and treasured grandchildren.
  After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Doctor McLeod joined the U.S. 
Army, completed medical school and began what would become a five-
decade storied career in Army Medicine. Drawn to service in direct 
support of troops in combat, Doctor McLeod delayed his surgical 
training to serve a distinguished combat tour in Vietnam with the 101st 
Airborne Division. Following his urology residency, he went on to serve 
as Program Director, Chief of Urologic Oncology, and Chief of Urology 
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.
  In 1992, Colonel McLeod established the Center for Prostate Disease 
Research (CPDR) at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. 
At its helm until his retirement from the Army in 2016, Dr. McLeod led 
CPDR's growth to ultimately become one of the world's finest, most 
influential prostate patient care and research centers, home to one of 
the largest and most comprehensive prostate cancer databases and tissue 
repositories in the country. For his part, Dr. McLeod would become 
internationally renowned for CPDR's groundbreaking and pioneering work 
that combined molecular biology and clinical research.
  He rose in academia to serve concurrently as a Professor of Surgery 
at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a 
Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery (Urology) at Georgetown 
University Medical Center. He also earned his Juris Doctor from 
Northern Virginia Law School. His published work appeared in major 
medical journals, including Urology, the Journal of Urology, the 
Journal of Urologic Oncology, and the Journal of Cancer. His 
contributions included co-authoring multiple chapters and publications 
on urologic oncology, educating his students and advancing the field of 
research simultaneously. He was a member of numerous professional 
societies and served as President of the American Foundation of 
Urologic Disease (now known as the American Urological Association 
Foundation) and past President of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the 
American Urologic Association. He was also a member of The Society of 
the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia and the D.C. Bar.
  After more than 50 years in uniformed service to our Nation, having 
personally cared for senior leaders within the highest branches of 
government with the same commitment and dedication as that given to 
active duty service members, foreign heads of state, veterans and their 
family members, Dr. McLeod was revered as an exceptional surgeon, 
urologic oncologist and patient advocate. To the thousands of 
physicians, surgeons, scientists and other healthcare providers who 
passed through the halls of Walter Reed during his tenure (myself 
included), and for civilian surgeons, urologists and oncologists 
throughout the nation and around the globe, David McLeod was revered as 
an extraordinary mentor and clinical pioneer. He was tough and had zero 
tolerance for nonsense; after all, you can take a man out of the 
Marines, but you can't take the Marine out of the man. However, despite 
the rough exterior, Dr. McLeod was adored and respected by everyone. 
Indeed, the trajectory of current prostate cancer detection, 
prevention, treatment and care rest on the shoulders of this giant in 
the field.
  Madam Speaker, Colonel (Doctor) (Retired) David G. McLeod is very 
clearly one of the giants of Army Medicine, one whose contributions to 
both military medicine and global health will be felt for years to 
come, and whose legacy will stand the test of time. To say it was a 
privilege working beside this man would be an understatement. I am 
honored to recognize his service, and on behalf of the 2nd District of 
Florida and all those who have known this phenomenal American, I wish 
to express my deepest thanks to David McLeod for his commendable years 
of service and dedication.

                          ____________________