[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 64 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1709-S1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING DR. MARK HALLETT
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the
life and legacy of a remarkable Marylander, Dr. Mark Hallett. Dr.
Hallett was a pioneer, a prolific researcher, and an unforgettable
mentor. The impacts of his work will be felt for generations to come.
Dr. Hallett was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where he
graduated high school before attending Harvard College. He then
received his M.D. at Harvard Medical School and completed his
internship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.
In 1970, Dr. Hallett began his work at the National Institutes of
Health and quickly discovered his interest in motor control research.
He completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and his
fellowship at the Institute of Psychiatry in London before returning to
Peter Bent Brigham Hospital as chief of the Clinical Neurophysiology
Laboratory.
Dr. Hallett later returned to NIH and created the Human Motor Control
Section with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke. He pioneered new methods to research human movement, motor
control, and various motor disorders, and treated countless patients.
He played a crucial role in the discovery of Havana Syndrome in
American diplomats and successfully helped renowned pianist Leon
Fleisher recover use of his hand.
For all his professional accolades, Dr. Hallett remained modest and
treated everyone he encountered with dignity and respect. He served as
a mentor to hundreds of researchers around the world. His leadership
qualities were undeniable, earning him several influential positions,
including with the International Federation of Clinical
Neurophysiology, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder
Society, and the American Academy of Neurology. His pioneering work has
advanced the field of neurology and left an indelible mark on the way
healthcare facilities treat countless illnesses and disorders.
Above all, Dr. Hallett's proudest achievement was his beautiful
family, and we in the Congress have been fortunate to have the benefit
of his wonderful wife Judy, an incredible researcher, brilliant
historian, and storied leader whose work has defined generations of
academic development. I invite my colleagues to join me in offering
appreciation and condolences to Judy, his children Nicholas and
Victoria, his grandchildren Celeste and Flora, and his siblings Eileen
and Bruce.
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