    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 26, 2002]
    [Pages 498-501]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nominations of Dr. Elias Zerhouni To Be Director of the National Institutes of Health and
    Dr. Richard Carmona

    To Be Surgeon General
    March 26, 2002

        Well, thank you, Tommy, very much, and
    welcome to the White House for this historic announcement. I appreciate
    your leadership, Tommy, in leading this administration's strong efforts
    to improve our Nation's health care, to make sure that more Americans
    get affordable health care, better patient protections, that the system
    puts our

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    patients first, the system understands the importance of our docs, and
    we value that relationship, patient and doctor.
        I also want to assure our fellow Americans that we're going to make
    and are making an unprecedented commitment to medical research. And
    we're improving our public health system to make sure that we can
    respond quickly to any biological threat that our country may face.
    We're putting sound health care policies in place and, as importantly,
    putting a quality team in place. And that's what we're here to discuss
    today.
        It's my honor to nominate two fine men to head important Government
    institutions, to take important jobs. My nominee to lead the National
    Institute of Health is Elias Zerhouni, and my nominee as the next
    Surgeon General is Richard Carmona. These are distinguished physicians
    who have worked tirelessly to save lives and to improve lives. They
    bring exceptional knowledge and skill to these critical jobs. And they
    are absolutely dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all
    Americans.
        It is my honor to welcome their families here as well. Thank you all
    for coming, Nadia Zerhouni and her children, and Diane Carmona and her
    children. We welcome you all, and we're glad you're here. I want to
    thank the Acting NIH Director, Ruth Kirschstein, for being here as well. Where are you, Ruth? There you
    are. Thank you so much, Ruth, for a fine job. I appreciate the Acting
    Surgeon General. Ken, where are you? Ken,
    thank you for being here, and thank you for your fine job as well.
        I want to thank the former NIH Director, Harold Varmus, for being here. Antonia Novello is here. Thank you, Antonia. I remember you.
    [Laughter] She was a former Surgeon General under ``41.'' [Laughter] And
    I'm so pleased that former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, former Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, former Congressman John Porter, as well, from Illinois, is here. Thank you all for
    coming. We're honored you're here. And I also want to thank the
    Ambassador from Algeria for being here as
    well. Thank you all for coming.
        The National Institutes of Health is entering a new era of medical
    promise. NIH researchers recently cracked the genetic code, an amazing
    achievement with enormous potential benefits. New diagnostic tools are
    alerting patients when they have an elevated risk of certain diseases,
    so they can take an active role in preventing them. New treatment
    therapies will be tailor-made for an individual's genetic makeup. And
    many medical treatments will become less invasive. American medicine is
    on the verge of dramatic progress against AIDS, against diabetes, and
    against heart disease. We're closing in on cancer's cause and cancer's
    cure.
        The anthrax attacks against American citizens also demonstrated the
    need to strengthen our defenses against bioterrorism. Medical research
    will improve our ability to identify and respond and treat infectious
    diseases, whether they occur naturally or are used as terrorist weapons.
    The NIH has taken a leading role in this important front on the war
    against terror. The work of the National Institutes of Health have never
    been more promising and never been more important.
        Leading the NIH is a great responsibility, and I have picked the
    right man to do so. Dr. Zerhouni and his wife
    immigrated to America from Algeria with $300 in their pocket, but a
    dream of opportunity. Today, he is the executive vice dean of the Johns
    Hopkins University School of Medicine, the chairman of the department of
    radiology and radiological science at Johns Hopkins, and a professor of
    radiology and biomedical engineering. He is an expert in biomedical
    research and is committed to extending his benefits to all Americans and
    all humanity.
        Dr. Zerhouni will also bring strong management skills to the NIH,
    and they are needed. This is a large and complex organization. The NIH
    budget has grown dramatically from around $2 billion in 1975

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    to more than $23 billion today. And my 2003 budget proposes an
    additional increase of nearly $4 billion. I urge Congress to approve
    this increase, and when they do, we will have completed my campaign
    commitment to double funding to this vital medical research over the
    next 5 years. Dr. Zerhouni is well prepared to manage this rapidly
    growing institution during times of great new opportunity and urgent
    biodefense needs. He has supervised research at Johns Hopkins, one of
    our Nation's leading research facilities. One former colleague calls him
    a quadruple threat: a doctor who excels at teaching, researching,
    patient care, and management.
        Dr. Zerhouni shares my view that human life is precious and should
    not be exploited or destroyed for the benefits of others. And he shares
    my view that the promise of ethically conducted medical research is
    limitless. As Director of the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni will be at the forefront
    of our efforts to promote biomedical research with a careful regard for
    the bounds of medical ethics.
        Dr. Zerhouni, thank you for accepting this incredibly exciting
    challenge.
        Translating medical research into practical life-improving changes
    is a critical function of the Surgeon General. Since 1871, the Surgeon
    General has been America's chief health educator, giving Americans the
    best, most up-to-date knowledge on how to improve their health and
    reduce the risk of disease.
        When I first learned that Dr. Richard Carmona once dangled out of a
    moving helicopter, I worried that maybe he wasn't the best guy to
    educate our Americans about reducing health risks. [Laughter] But that
    turned out to be just one of several times that Dr. Carmona risked his
    own life to save others. As an Army Green Beret in Vietnam, a decorated
    police officer in Pima County, Arizona, a SWAT team member, a nurse, and
    a physician, Dr. Carmona has redefined the term ``hands-on medicine.''
        Dr. Carmona currently serves as the clinical professor of surgery
    and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the
    University of Arizona. He is also the chairman of the State of Arizona
    Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. He will bring to the Surgeon
    General's Office a proven commitment to service and a strong management
    background.
        The next Surgeon General will address three particularly urgent
    issues. First, the Surgeon General administers the 5,600-member Public
    Health Service Commission Corps, health care professionals who are on
    call for emergency duty. Members of this force were deployed in New York
    and Washington, DC, after the terrorist attacks of September the 11th
    and during the anthrax attacks that followed. Dr. Carmona has worked for
    many years in law enforcement and community preparedness, important
    preparation for any emergency that may come. Dr. Carmona is an
    experienced voice to help educate Americans about the best precautions
    and response to the threat of bioterrorism.
        Second, I have asked Dr. Carmona to lead an important initiative
    focusing on prevention and lifelong healthy living as a key component to
    medical care. The research is overwhelming that simple improvements in
    diet and exercise would result in dramatic improvements in America's
    health. Studies show that overweight Americans who are at risk of
    developing type II diabetes or coronary heart disease can delay and
    possibly prevent these diseases with just moderate exercise and a
    healthy diet. Walking 30 minutes a day will dramatically improve your
    life. Playing a game with your children in your backyard will help.
    Walking in a park can make a difference to your health. These relatively
    small actions can dramatically reduce costs and strain on our health
    care system.
        Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are a priority for me. I really like
    to run. It makes me feel better. The doc and I are going to encourage
    all our country to either run

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    or walk or swim or bicycle for the good of their families, for the good
    of their own health, and for the good of the health of the Nation.
        And thirdly, Dr. Carmona is going to speak regularly to the Nation
    about alcohol and drug abuse and the tremendous toll they take on our
    society. Substance abuse by students undermines academic achievement and
    dims the great hope of the American Dream. Alcohol is a prime cause for
    many of our society's ills, not the least of which is domestic violence.
    And the long-term health effects of alcohol and drug abuse are
    devastating. If we want to live healthier and longer, we're going to
    have to tackle the problems of alcohol and drug abuse. And Dr. Carmona's
    going to make that one of his priorities.
        Doctor, I thank you so very much for your willingness to serve our
    country.
        I have found two fine Americans who are willing to serve our Nation,
    and I'm grateful for their service. It is now my honor to welcome to the
    podium Dr. Zerhouni, the nominee to run our National Institute of
    Health.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:47 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Health and Human
    Services Tommy G. Thompson; Nadia Zerhouni, wife of Elias Zerhouni, and
    their children, Will, Yasmin, and Adam; Diana Carmona, wife of Richard
    Carmona; and Idriss Jazairy, Algerian Ambassador to the United States.