Volume 25, No. 1 - March 2000                     Published by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) awarded Atlanta-based businessman and noted philanthropist, R.E. "Ted" Turner, and distinguished medical researcher and corporate executive R. Gordon Douglas, Jr., MD, its prestigious awards at the NFID Awards Dinner on February 15, 2000.

The black-tie event, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, VA, honors individuals whose outstanding efforts and achievements have contributed significantly to improving health worldwide.

Dr. Douglas received the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement, which is awarded to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases or public health. Mr. Turner was honored with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind, which is awarded to individuals whose outstanding humanitarian efforts and achievements have contributed significantly to improving the world's health.

The Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement is named for the late Maxwell Finland, MD, a distinguished scholar, scientist, and teacher. Dr. Finland, a former member of the NFID Board of Directors, did pioneering work in the diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of bacterial infections; the evaluation of antimicrobials; and the demonstration of the evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance. He was a driving force in shaping infectious diseases training programs in the United States and in defining the discipline of infectious diseases as we know it today.

Dr. Douglas, upon accepting of the award said, "I am proud and happy to receive this award because I held Dr. Finland and his work to such high esteem."

NFID President Ronald Lee Nichols, MD, presented Dr. Douglas with the award for his "pioneering work in infectious diseases, which has included research on the mechanisms of transmission, immunology and antiviral therapy of influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infections. You are truly a remarkable individual and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases is proud to honor you with it's 2000 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement."

Dr. Douglas' interest in virology was sparked by the introduction of the polio vaccine. He graduated from Princeton Medical School in 1955 when the vaccine was beginning to be widely used. Dr. Douglas remarked, "It was a very exciting time and I was stimulated by this. It got me interested in virology and I became fascinated with viruses and how they worked."

In a career that has included medical research, clinical investigation, academic administration and industrial leadership, Dr. Douglas thanked colleagues, many of whom were in attendance at the evening's event, "who did all the work while I benefitted because I was their leader."

Dr. Douglas was introduced by Richard Krause, MD, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Krause spoke of Dr. Douglas' "extreme integrity" and talent as a clinician.

One of Dr. Douglas's predecessors at Cornell was Alexander Bearn, MD, who calls Dr. Douglas "an extraordinarily broadly-based physician." Dr. Bearn left Cornell for the pharmaceutical concern of Merck and Company. "Dr. Douglas had become interested in the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the health care of this country. Since I was retiring I chatted with Gordon about the job at Merck and interested him in the position," says Dr. Bearn, who is now executive officer of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.

Dr. Douglas went to Merck in 1990. "At Merck he did an extremely good job. Although he started with a relatively small area of responsibility, this expanded as it became clear that he was not only a very fine infectious disease doctor, but also that he had talents in terms of negotiation and business acumen," says Dr. Bearn.

Dr. Douglas has also played a major role in developing public health policy. As a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and the World Health Organization's Children's Vaccine Initiative Consultative Group, he was a forceful proponent for preventative medicine by vaccines. "He has been an articulate and effective spokesman for more focused national and world planning for vaccine research and development and for the delivery of vaccines to all populations," says, Maurice Hilleman, PhD, fellow vaccine research pioneer and winner of the 1998 Maxwell Finland Award.

Dr. Douglas retired from Merck in May, 1999 but he still keeps up his interest in infectious disease prevention. He is a consultant in Strategic Planning for Vaccine Research and Development at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institutes of Health. "The Center's activities are of course primarily focused on AIDS vaccine development," Dr. Douglas notes. "But once these technologies have been established they will provide a platform for the development of other needed vaccines such as those to combat TB and malaria."

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind is named for President and Mrs. Carter, who as outstanding humanitarians have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people worldwide. They are co-founders of The Carter Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta and dedicated to improving the quality of life. Through the Carter Center, President and Mrs. Carter have worked to resolve conflict peacefully, promote democracy, protect human rights, and prevent and eradicate disease.

"I can't tell you how exciting getting this award is...I've read so much [about infectious diseases] I feel like I could be a doctor," quipped Mr. Turner upon receipt of the award.

The Honorable Paul G. Rogers, the 1996 Maxwell Finland awardee and chairman of the NFID Board of Trustees, presented the award to Mr. Turner on behalf of NFID "for philanthropic contributions to improving the lives and health of people worldwide through your gift to the UN Foundation."

In 1997, Ted Turner, as he is universally known, established the United Nations Foundation and through it has committed one billion dollars over a 10-year period to advance specific United Nations' projects. They include programs of direct influence on health such as disease prevention and eradication, land mine destruction, and programs that ultimately affect health such as refugee assistance, education, global warming and peace keeping efforts in general. The UN Foundation is actively defining how to allocate most effectively approximately $20 million a year to benefit the worlds neediest children. Former President Jimmy Carter, who personally nominated Mr. Turner, said in a videotaped message for those in attendance, "Ted Turner is one of my heroes . . . the UN Foundation has made children=s health one of its highest priorities. Initial target areas include preventing infections of the human immune deficiency virus which results in AIDS, new approaches to delivering effective public health interventions such as vaccines to those who otherwise do not have access to such services..."

Late last year, the UN Foundation announced it would donate $28 million toward the global effort to eradicate polio by the end of 2000. The gift was matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which will give an additional $50 million to the effort. The philanthropists challenged other foundations, and governments as well, to further increase funding for the international campaign.

"This is wonderful news," said Dr. Stephen L. Cochi, who directs the CDC's polio eradication programs. "It is a big boost to the eradication effort to have two new partners in the global fight against polio."

Mr. Turner concurs. "Attacking polio is the right thing to do for a couple of reasons. First, it is a great opportunity to knock a challenge off the global agenda. Ninety percent of the world is polio-free, and we can wipe out this disease in just a few years if we keep our eyes on the prize of a polio free world. Polio eradication also makes good economic sense. If we win this fight, the world will save $1.5 billion a year, which can be directed toward other health concerns."

Former Ambassador William Luers, president of the UN Association and the person who seconded President Carter's nomination of Mr. Turner for this award, said of him in his introduction, "Ted has demonstrated incredible vision....his dreams have changed global realities and made the world a better place".

Past recipients of the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement are Stanley Falkow, PhD, pioneer in the field of pathogenisis; Maurice R. Hilleman, PhD, renowned vaccine researcher; Joshua Lederberg, PhD, Nobel Prize winner and genetics research pioneer; the Hon. Paul G. Rogers, former congressman from Florida; the Honorable Dale Bumpers, senator from Arkansas, and Mrs. Betty F. Bumpers, co-founder, "Every Child by Two"; Elizabeth Hanford Dole, president, American Red Cross; Arthur Ashe, Jr., champion tennis player and humanitarian; Michael E. DeBakey, MD, chancellor, Baylor College of Medicine and renowned surgeon; Mrs. Albert Lasker, president, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation; P. Roy Vagelos, MD, former chief executive officer, Merck & Co., Inc.; Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH; and C. Everett Koop, MD, ScD, former US surgeon general.

Past recipients of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind are David Satcher, MD, PhD, United States Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health; Gen. Colin L. Powell, chair of America's Promise, and President and Mrs. Carter, who received the first Carter award in 1997.

The honorary co-chairs for the occasion were the President and Mrs. Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Carter, and former President Gerald R. Ford and Mrs. Ford. The Hon. Paul G. Rogers served as the master of ceremonies and co-chair of the gala, along with W. Michael Scheld, MD, NFID vice president. The dinner was preceded by a reception sponsored by Merck Vaccine Division.

The US Armed Forces Color Guard opened the evening with the presentation of the colors. This was followed by a quartet of the Troubadours of the George Washington University who sang their rendition of "The National Anthem." After dinner, members of the George Washington University Troubadours performed additional selections.

Among the many distinguished guests in attendance were Virginia Congressman Jim Moran; Louis Sullivan, MD, former secretary of health and human services and now president of the Morehouse College School of Medicine; David Satcher, MD, PhD, assistant secretary for health and the United States Surgeon General and the 1999 Carter Award honoree; Jeffery Koplan, MD, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; James M. Hughes, MD, director, National Center for Infectious Diseases at the CDC; Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director, NIAID at the NIH and the 1989 Maxwell Finland Award honoree; Lt. General Ronald R. Blanck, surgeon general of the Army and commander of the US Army Medical Command, and The Honorable William H. Luers, former ambassador to Venezuela and Czechoslovakia and president of the United Nations Association.