SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1000
WHEREAS, Andrew C. von Eschenbach served with distinction
as commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration
from 2005 to 2009 and as director of the National Cancer
Institute from 2002 to 2005; and
WHEREAS, Dr. von Eschenbach brought to those posts some 30
years of experience as a physician, surgeon, medical educator,
and hospital executive, including service as executive vice
president and chief academic at The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; moreover, he has gained
international renown as a cancer specialist; and
WHEREAS, Appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the
National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health,
Dr. von Eschenbach immediately began working toward the
acceleration and integration of the
discovery-development-delivery continuum, and he committed
resources to ensure the application to oncology of
nanotechnology, genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and other
emerging technologies; and
WHEREAS, He was subsequently chosen by President Bush as
acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and
following confirmation by the senate in December 2006, he
fostered a variety of creative projects at the agency; the Beyond
Our Borders Initiative created Food and Drug Administration
permanent offices around the world, and the Critical Path
Initiative brought modern scientific tools to the product
development process; in addition, Dr. von Eschenbach
substantially increased Food and Drug Administration
collaboration with regulatory counterparts in other countries,
provided technical assistance to foreign regulators and
industries, and increased efforts to learn more about importers
and their products; and
WHEREAS, Dr. von Eschenbach, who holds a bachelor's degree
from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and a medical
degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, completed
his internship and residency in urologic surgery at Philadelphia
General Hospital and served as an instructor in urology at the
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; along the way, he
also served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy
Medical Corps; and
WHEREAS, The author of more than 200 scientific articles
and studies, Dr. von Eschenbach has been recognized on numerous
occasions for his contributions to medicine; among his honors are
the 2003 Carpe Diem Award from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and
an Achievement Award from the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan
Houston; in 2006, he was named to the Time magazine 100 list of
"the people who shape our world," and in 2007 and 2008, he was
selected by Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician as one of the 50
Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare; and
WHEREAS, Dr. von Eschenbach is supported in his endeavors
by his wife, Madelyn, as well as their four children, and he
enjoys the love and affection of seven grandchildren; since
leaving government service, he joined Greenleaf Health as a
senior advisor; and
WHEREAS, The people of this state and nation have benefited
greatly from the dedication and vision of Dr. Andrew C. von
Eschenbach, and his efforts in their behalf are indeed deserving
of recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
Legislature, hereby honor Andrew C. von Eschenbach on his
exemplary service as commissioner of the United States Food and
Drug Administration and as director of the National Cancer
Institute during the Bush administration and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Dr. von Eschenbach as an expression of high regard
from the Texas Senate.
Zaffirini
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 25, 2009.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate