[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 19272-19273]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO VINCENT FORLENZA

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, Senator Hatch and I join together today 
to recognize the contributions of Vincent A. Forlenza, chairman, CEO 
and president of BD, in establishing and leading AdvaMedDx, an 
important new voice for the role of medical diagnostic tests in patient 
care.
  BD, the leading global medical technology company, has a strong 
presence in both Maryland and Utah as do other companies in the medical 
device and diagnostics sectors. We understand firsthand the growing 
importance of diagnostics to power medical discoveries and transform 
patient care.
  Mr. HATCH. The diagnostics sector spans thousands of different kinds 
of tests, from blood tests for cholesterol to new genetic tests that 
identify cancer variants and match patients to the most appropriate 
drugs. Diagnostic tests facilitate evidence-based medicine, improve 
quality of care, promote wellness, enable early detection of disease 
and often reduce overall health care costs.
  In short, diagnostics play a critical role in the health care system 
and are an essential part of quality patient care. While these tests 
account for only about 2 percent of health care spending, they 
influence the large majority of the health care decisions made each and 
every day.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. The impact of diagnostics, however, is not always well 
understood by patients, policymakers and, sometimes, even physicians. 
In 2010, Mr. Forlenza played an

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instrumental role in bringing together a group of leading diagnostics 
manufacturers to form a new trade association, AdvaMedDx, whose core 
mission is to create an understanding of the role diagnostics play in 
the health care system and help foster patient access to innovative, 
safe, and effective tests. Soon after the founding of the AdvaMedDx, 
Mr. Forlenza assumed the role of chairman of the board of directors, a 
position he has held for the last 3 years.
  Mr. HATCH. During Mr. Forlenza's tenure as chairman, AdvaMedDx 
doubled the size of its membership and established itself as a credible 
voice on health care policy in Washington and around the world. Under 
Mr. Forlenza's leadership, the diagnostic industry has worked with a 
range of stakeholders to pursue initiatives that aim to reform and 
modernize the diagnostics regulatory and payment environment in order 
to keep pace with innovation and the changing health care landscape. 
AdvaMedDx works not only with Members of Congress and key public health 
agencies but also with organizations ranging from patient advocacy 
groups to cancer research societies to the World Health Organization.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. As part of its contribution to the policy dialogue, 
AdvaMedDx has organized Capitol Hill briefings at which leaders in the 
field of diagnostics have shared insights and current developments on 
topics including women's health, cancer diagnostics, antibiotic 
resistance, and infectious diseases. Just a few weeks ago, AdvaMedDx 
and the American Association for Cancer Research held a daylong 
symposium on personalized medicine and companion diagnostics, keynoted 
by the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and the 
Director of the National Institutes of Health.
  Mr. HATCH. AdvaMedDx also has established itself as a global leader, 
driving collaboration with allied associations in Europe, Canada, 
Brazil, Japan, and Australia.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. Forlenza has been a tireless champion for the power 
of diagnostics to promote wellness, improve patient outcomes and 
advance public health. The success of AdvaMedDx in a few short years is 
in large measure due to this vision that he brought to the 
organization.
  Mr. HATCH. Congratulations to Vince on his accomplishments during his 
tenure as AdvaMedDx chairman, and best wishes to AdvaMedDx for many 
future successes.

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