Tribute to Dr. Bart Barlogie

TRIBUTE TO DR. BART BARLOGIE

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, Senator BLANCHE LINCOLN, to honor Dr. Bart Barlogie.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to publicly commend Dr. Barlogie for his unyielding dedication and stalwart leadership in the field of oncology research and treatment. His hard work has led to the development of innovative and comprehensive approaches to treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, which has translated better therapies, prolonged remission rates for cancer survivors and improved the quality of life for many of his patients. Moreover, his commitment may ultimately lead to a cure for the most challenging and misunderstood of all cancers.

On May 8, 2004, Dr. Barlogie was awarded the International Myeloma Foundation's Second Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, which is being given for only the second time, recognizes the significant and revolutionary work of his professional career. This award follows an already long and distinguished line of accomplishments.

Arkansas was well on its way to becoming the center for myeloma clinical research and treatment when Dr. Barlogie accepted the position of director of hematology/oncology, and director of research at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, (ACRC), at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (UAMS, and founding director of the Myeloma and Transplantation Research Center, MTRC, within the ACRC. His research team has developed innovative and comprehensive approaches to the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. Because of his leadership role in the area of myeloma research and treatment, he was named the first director of a newly established Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy.

During Dr. Barlogie's 15-year tenure at UAMS, more myeloma patients have been treated in Arkansas than anywhere else in the world. Yet, despite his gains in this area, myeloma continues to affect thousands. This year, approximately 15,000 Americans will be diagnosed with myeloma. Looking to the future, Dr. Barlogie envisions a satellite-based intensive training program which will reach physicians worldwide so that many of these patients treated at the institute will have access to specialized medical care upon returning to their home States or countries.

Of paramount importance to Dr. Barlogie are his wife Kathleen and their three children, Britta, Eva, and Bart. He loves them dearly and credits their support for his success. They have made their home in Little Rock, AR, and have added a number of their own contributions to our community and State.

We thank Dr. Barlogie for making Arkansas the center of his professional and personal life. His past and future achievements have truly helped make the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, and the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy very respectable among the premier health care institutions in the State. More importantly, through his work, Dr. Barlogie has had concrete and positive impacts on the everyday lives of thousands of his patients. His commitment to this cause is incredible: he is saving lives and providing hope for millions more.