|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Congressional Gold Medal.com |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
| |
Congressional Gold Medal Nominee
Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey
Michael Ellis DeBakey is internationally recognized as a pioneer of modern medicine. An ingenious medical inventor and innovator, a gifted and dedicated teacher, a premier surgeon, and an international medical statesman, Dr. DeBakey is relentlessly pursuing new avenues in which modern technology can be applied to the practice of healing and saving lives. He is currently working with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to develop a self-contained, miniaturized artificial heart. His DeBakey-Raytheon-ITS telemedicine system uses satellites to electronically link remote sites of the world to the famed Texas Medical center for medical training and treatment. At age 88, DeBakey is a senior attending surgeon at The Methodist Hospital, the largest hospital in the Texas Medical Center. He is also chancellor emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine, a center for leading medical education and research. Born in Louisiana, DeBakey received his Bachelor's and medical degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and residency in surgery at the University of Strasbourg, France and at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. While in medical school and actively engaged in medical research, DeBakey invented the roller pump, later to become a major component of the heart-lung machine used in open-heart surgery. He is also credited with inventing and perfecting other medical devices, techniques, and procedures that have saved countless lives and led to health hearts for millions throughout the world. DeBakey volunteered for military service during World War II, and was subsequently named director of the Surgical Consultants' Division of the U.S. Surgeon General's office. His work in that office led to the development of mobile army surgical hospital (MASH units). He later helped establish the specialized medical and surgical center system for treating military personnel returning from war, subsequently the Veteran's Administration Medical Center System. Over the years, DeBakey has earned an impressive reputation as an international medical statesman. He has served as an advisor to nearly every United States president for the past 50 years, as well as to heads of state throughout the world. DeBakey's efforts helped establish the National Library of Medicine, which is now the world's largest and most prestigious repository of medical archives. More recently, his 1996 trip to Russia to consult on the surgery of Russian president Boris Yeltsin was reported by every major news medial outlet around the world. This prolific surgeon and humanitarian has performed more than 60,000 cardiovascular procedures and has trained thousands of surgeons who practice around the world. This prolific surgeon and humanitarian has performed more than 60,000 cardiovascular procedures and has trained thousands of surgeons who practice around the world. In 1976, his students founded the Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society. His name is affixed to a number of organizations, centers for learning, and projects devoted to medical education and health education for the general public. DeBakey has received numerous honorary degrees from prestigious colleges and universities, as well as innumerable awards from educational institutions, professional and civic organizations, and governments worldwide. In 1969, he received the highest honor a United States citizen can receive - the
Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded the National Medal of Science to DeBakey. In 1978, a 300-lb bronze bust of DeBakey, commissioned by King Leopold and Princess Liliane of Belgium, was unveiled. At the unveiling, the Princess said, "He has provided national and international leadership in fighting cardiovascular disease, and this bust will be a symbol of hope and encouragement to all who come here. The bust stands in the lobby of The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. But, always nearby is Dr. DeBakey himself, also a symbol of hope and encouragement, and a true living legend.
In 1969, he received the highest honor a United States citizen can receive -
the Presidential
Medal of Freedom with Distinction. Timeline 1908 - Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana 1928 - Entered medical school at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 1932 - Developed roller pump used in heart-lung machine 1937 - Joined faculty at Tulane University 1942 - Assigned to US Surgeon General's office 1945 - Awarded Legion of Merit for developing MASH units 1949 - Led movement to establish National Library of Medicine 1950-53 - Developed Dacron artificial grafts for cardiac bypass surgery 1953 - Performed first removal of blockage in carotid artery 1956 - Performed first patch-graft angioplasty 1959 - Received Distinguished Service Award from American Medical Association 1960 - Began development of artificial heart 1963 - Was first to use interactive telemedicine 1964 - Performed first aorto-coronary artery bypass 1964 - Appointed chairman of President's Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke 1966 - Was first to successfully use an artificial heart 1968 - Performed first of 12 heart transplants 1969 - Appointed president of Baylor College of Medicine 1969 - Presented with the Medal of Freedom with Distinction 1977 - Authored The Living Heart 1978 - The Michael E. DeBakey Center for Biomedical Education and Research created 1984 - Authored The Living Heart Diet 1985 - The DeBakey Heart Center created 1987 - Awarded the National Medicine of Science 1991 - Given Lifetime Achievement Award of the Foundation for Biomedical Research 1993 - Received Honorary Doctorate from Moscow State University 1996 - Inducted into Health Care Hall of Fame 1998 - Celebrates 50 years at Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital 1998 - German surgeons implant DeBakey VAD in 1st human patient 1999 - Received Lifetime Achievement Award from United Nations 2000 - Cited as "Living Legend" by United States Library of Congress
Michael DeBakey (left) receives the National Medal of Science from U.S. President Ronald Reagan, as Vice President George Bush looks on, June 25, 1987. 108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2868
To award a congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 24, 2003 Mr. CULBERSON (for himself, Mr. BELL, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. EDWARDS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. TURNER of Texas, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. REYES, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. FROST, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. HALL, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. SESSIONS, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. CARTER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. BRADY of Texas, and Mr. BONILLA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
A BILL To award a congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress makes the following findings: (1) Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. was born on September 7, 1908 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Shaker and Raheeja DeBakey. (2) Dr. DeBakey, at the age of 23 and still a medical student, reported a major invention, a roller pump for blood transfusions, which later became a major component of the heart-lung machine used in the first successful open-heart operation. (3) Even though Dr. DeBakey had already achieved a national reputation as an authority on vascular disease and had a promising career as a surgeon and teacher, he volunteered for military service during World War II, joining the Surgeon General's staff and rising to the rank of Colonel and Chief of the Surgical Consultants Division. (4) As a result of this first-hand knowledge of military service, Dr. DeBakey made numerous recommendations for the proper staged management of war wounds, which led to the development of mobile army surgical hospitals or MASH units and earned Dr. DeBakey the Legion of Merit in 1945. (5) After the war, Dr. DeBakey proposed the systematic medical follow-up of veterans and recommended the creation of specialized medical centers in different areas of the United States to treat wounded military personnel returning from war and from this recommendation evolved the Veterans Affairs Medical Center System and the establishment of the Commission on Veterans Medical Problems of the National Research Council. (6) In 1948, Dr. DeBakey joined the Baylor University College of Medicine, where he developed the first surgical residency program in the City of Houston, and today, guided by Dr. DeBakey's vision, the College is one of the most respected health science centers in the Nation. (7) In 1953, Dr. DeBakey performed the first successful procedures to treat patients who suffered aneurysms leading to severe strokes, and he later developed a series of innovative surgical techniques for the treatment of aneurysms enabling thousands of lives to be saved in the years ahead. (8) In 1964, Dr. DeBakey triggered the most explosive era in modern cardiac surgery, when he performed the first successful coronary bypass, once again paving the way for surgeons world-wide to offer hope to thousands of patients who might otherwise succumb to heart disease. (9) Two years later, Dr. DeBakey made medical history again, when he was the first to successfully use a partial artificial heart to solve the problems of a patient who could not be weaned from a heart-lung machine following open-heart surgery. (10) In 1968, Dr. DeBakey supervised the first successful multi-organ transplant, in which a heart, both kidneys, and lung were transplanted from a single donor into 4 separate recipients. (11) In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Dr. DeBakey to the position of Chairman of the President's Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke, leading to the creation of Regional Medical Programs established `to encourage and assist in the establishment of regional cooperative arrangements among medical schools, research institutions, and hospitals, for research and training.'. (12) In the mid-1960's, Dr. DeBakey pioneered the field of telemedicine with the first demonstration of open-heart surgery to be transmitted overseas by satellite. (13) In 1969, Dr. DeBakey was elected the first President of Baylor College of Medicine. (14) In 1969, President Lyndon B. Johnson bestowed on Dr. DeBakey the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, and in 1985, President Ronald Reagan conferred on him the National Medal of Science. (15) Working with NASA engineers, he refined existing technology to create the DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device, one-tenth the size of current versions, which may eliminate the need for heart transplantation in some patients. SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED- The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D., in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to the Nation. (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING- For purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the `Secretary') shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary. SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS. The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS. (a) NATIONAL MEDALS- The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. (b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS- For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE. (a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS- There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this Act. (b) PROCEEDS OF SALE- Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. END
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles & Breifings
