In Recognition of Dr. Philip C. Hopewell
IN RECOGNITION OF DR. PHILIP C. HOPEWELL -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 12, 2004)
SPEECH OF
HON. NANCY PELOSI
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2004
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate my constituent, Philip C. Hopewell, MD. The American Lung Association has awarded Dr. Hopewell, a leader in the fight against tuberculosis, the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal to recognize his lifelong contribution to the prevention diagnosis and treatment of lung disease.
In 1970, Dr. Hopewell took a brief sabbatical from his internal medicine residency program at the University of California San Francisco to work in war-torn Nigeria as a consultant to the Nigerian government on their tuberculosis control program. Dr. Hopewell's experience gave him first hand knowledge of the problems faced by developing countries in implementing effective tuberculosis control programs. More importantly, it gave Dr. Hopewell the belief that effective TB control programs can be established in the developing world.
Since 1971, Dr. Hopewell has shared his expertise in designing and implementing TB control programs. Most recently, Dr. Hopewell has worked as vice-chair of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for the World Health Organization (WHO) Stop TB Department. In his capacity at the WHO-STOP TB Partnership, Dr. Hopewell has provided technical expertise to developing nations around the globe on development and implementation of effective TB programs.
I first became aware of Dr. Hopewell's work about five years ago when we met to discuss increasing the U.S. committee to TB control at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). At that time, the USAID contribution to international TB control was essentially zero. Dr. Hopewell made it clear to all who would listen that TB control programs can work in the developing world and it is in our country's best interests to take an active role. Through Dr. Hopewell's work and the hard work of many others, the U.S. support for international TB control has grown. Yet there is more to be done, as Dr. Hopewell always reminds me.
While the world has benefited from Dr. Hopewell's work, he has not ignored the problem of TB at home in San Francisco. Dr. Hopewell became involved in the San Francisco tuberculosis control program through his supervision of a contract by which clinical services were provided to the Department of Public Health. The affiliation of an academic institution and an effective public health tuberculosis control program has provided and continues to provide important opportunities for training and research in many aspects of tuberculosis control. This combination forms the foundation of the Frances J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center, directed by Dr. Hopewell. The Curry Center is one of three CDC-funded model centers in the country.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Hopewell is a teacher, a healer, a scientist and an international humanitarian. I join many throughout this country in recognizing and honoring Dr. Hopewell and his lifetime of achievement in the research, prevention and treatment of lung disease.
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