[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING DR. NORVELL V. COOTS

 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise today to honor 
Brigadier General (Ret.) Norvell Vandervall Coots, MD, MSS, FAAD, a 
distinguished healthcare and military leader who passed away on June 
12, 2024. Dr. Coots dedicated his life to serving our Nation and 
improving the health and well-being of countless lives.
  Dr. Coots retired from the U.S. Army in 2016, culminating his 
distinguished 36-year military career as commanding general of Regional 
Health Command Europe, concurrent with his post as command surgeon for 
the U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army. Throughout his service, Dr. Coots 
held numerous key positions, including deputy commanding general of the 
U.S. Army Medical Command, Assistant Surgeon General for Force 
Projection at the Pentagon, and Surgeon General for the U.S. forces in 
Afghanistan. He also served as the final commander of the historic 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Coots' extensive 
military accomplishments earned him international recognition in the 
form of both the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal and the French 
Legion of Honor, among many others.
  Dr. Coots served as the president and CEO of Holy Cross Health in 
Montgomery County, MD, for 7 years. Under his guidance, Holy Cross 
Health became a regional leader in comprehensive cancer care. Dr. Coots 
also established the Trinity Health Military and Veterans Healthcare 
Program, addressing the unique needs of military servicemembers, 
veterans, and their families. Notably, the National Medical Association 
acknowledged Dr. Coots' dedication and achievement by awarding him the 
Scroll of Merit.
  Following his appointment to Maryland's COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. 
Coots served as chair of the board of the National Institutes of 
Health's Clinical Center Hospital. In this role, he was instrumental in 
overseeing operations and fortifying a culture of safety and high-
quality clinical care. His leadership was pivotal in strengthening the 
practices of oversight and compliance, ensuring that the NIH Clinical 
Center maintained its high standard of excellence. In addition to 
leadership roles as chairman of the Board for Maryland Physicians Care, 
with the American Academy of Dermatology, and on the American Hospital 
Association Board of Trustees, Dr. Coots received recognition from the 
Pearl S. Buck Society for his contributions to the development of a 
healthcare program for orphans in Korea. He also founded Project 
Moldova, a charity organization for vocational training for children in 
Moldovan orphanages and boarding schools.
  Personally, Van was a trusted and treasured member of my United 
States Uniformed Service Academy Advisory Board, helping to select and 
shepherd the next generation of military leaders. His vision and 
passion for mentoring poignantly built on his own legacy of excellence 
in public service, and generations across our Nation and around the 
world will feel the ripple effects of his good works.
  I extend my deepest condolences and gratitude to Dr. Coots' family, 
including his wife Claudia and their children Maximilian and Catalina 
and to his colleagues. His legacy of service, leadership, and 
excellence will continue to inspire us all.

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