[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20798]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO DR. EMMETT O. TEMPLETON

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Dr. Emmett O. 
Templeton of Birmingham, Alabama who recently received the American 
College of Radiology's (ACR) Gold Medal. Dr. Templeton currently chairs 
the department of radiology at Montclair Baptist Medical Center in 
Birmingham and continues to faithfully serve the community.
  Dr. Templeton is an extraordinary individual who, as Chairman of the 
board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology, made a 
lasting impression on Members of Congress by his straight-talking 
style. He served his specialty, radiology, and the nation's public 
policy in health by dealing with problems head-on and working to find 
solutions. Dr. Templeton has been an asset to all of us in Congress and 
is deserving of the ACR Gold Medal which recognizes his marvelous 
achievements.
  In addition, I have included the remarks made in the ACR Bulletin 
about Dr. Templeton and why he has been awarded the Gold Medal.

                       Emmett O. Templeton, M.D.

       At 53, Emmett ``Neal'' Templeton, M.D., is one of the 
     youngest recipients of the ACR Gold Medal. A unique and 
     talented radiologist, Dr. Templeton is perhaps best known for 
     his outstanding contributions and dedicated service to the 
     college. Never one to toot his own horn, Dr. Templeton's 
     unassuming manner, excellent intermediary talents and astute 
     guidance have earned him the widespread respect of his peers. 
     He has played a significant role in the advancement and 
     success of the ACR and has been an inspiration to many of his 
     colleagues in the southeast.
       An ACR Fellow, Dr. Templeton became actively involved with 
     the ACR fewer than 15 years ago, yet has served on more than 
     20 commissions and committees and participated for several 
     years on many of them. The wide range of committees he has 
     assisted is a reflection of his avid interest in all aspects 
     of radiology, including accurate coding, practice matters and 
     relationships with clinics and hospitals.
       ``Neal is an unusually bright and charismatic individual, 
     which is immediately evident to those he meets. It is the 
     reason he has so frequently been chosen for leadership,'' 
     says Milton Gallant, M.D., director of radiology at The 
     General Hospital Center at Passaic in New Jersey. 
     ``Leadership opportunities, coupled with unusual 
     statesmanship and hard work, have resulted in his endeavors 
     being uniformly successful.''
       Dr. Templeton has selflessly shared his time and counsel in 
     ACR leadership roles, beginning as vice chair for the 
     Commission on Radiologic Practice, The Commission on 
     Economics, the Committee on State and Economic Legislation of 
     the Commission on Economics, the Committee on Coding and 
     Nomenclature and the Commission on Government Relations have 
     all benefitted from his direction as chair. From 1992 to 
     1994, he served as vice chair of the Board of Chancellors. 
     The following two years he served as chairman of the board 
     while also serving as chairman of the Commission on 
     Government Relations. In 1996 he was elected ACR president.
       Bibb Allen Jr., M.D., one of Templeton's partners at 
     Birmingham Radiological Group, saw firsthand the sacrifices 
     Templeton willingly made during his tenure on the Board of 
     Chancellors. ``Neal spent the vast majority of his personal 
     time away from the hospital conducting the business of the 
     college,'' Allen says. ``All radiologists have benefitted 
     from Neal's leadership and skill.''
       Dr. Templeton is also a member of the Radiology Residency 
     Review Committee, the AMA Practice Expense Advisory 
     Committee, AMA-CPT Editorial Panel, the Government Relations 
     Oversight Committee and the Practice Expense Advisory 
     Committee panel.
       His effective management style has made him an accomplished 
     mediator. He is well known for his concern and support for 
     technologists, office managers and office staff, recognizing 
     the importance of their role in the practice of radiology. 
     According to Barbara E. Chick, M.D., past councilor, 
     chancellor and vice president of the ACR, ``His availability 
     to meet with anyone, at any time, to help problem-solve was a 
     great asset to the field of radiology when the ``turf'' 
     battles were so common.'' Chick adds, ``I believe his keen 
     insight has been beneficial to many practices in their 
     marketing and reimbursement activities.''
       Templeton has a unique knowledge of radiologic practice and 
     economic matters. He has been appointed to the boards of HMO 
     and PPO organizations as a result of the model hospital and 
     imaging center practices he has demonstrated in his own 
     practice. One of the highlights of his career was his 
     stewardship of diagnostic imaging centers as an alternative 
     to private office or hospital practice. He was an early 
     expert in this concept during a time when the recognition of 
     radiologists as ``physicians'' was not unequivocal.
       Currently chair of the department of radiology at Montclair 
     Baptist Medical Center, Birmingham, Ala., Templeton earned 
     his medical degree from the University of Alabama in 1973 and 
     completed his internship and residency at the University of 
     Alabama's hospitals and clinics. Even after achieving the 
     highest positions in the ACR, he continues to serve the 
     college and radiology ``in the trenches.''
       Michael A. Sullivan, M.D., associate chairman of the 
     department of diagnostic radiology at Ochsner Clinic in New 
     Orleans, sums up Templeton's character nicely: ``Neal is a 
     wonderful individual who is forthright, honest and hard-
     working. He exemplifies the term `involved radiologist.' 
     ''

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