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AHRQ Building DedicationThank you, Carolyn, for that warm introduction. Carolyn, you are a great leader of AHRQ, an excellent advisor on health quality, and a worthy successor to Dr. John Eisenberg. Under your leadership, AHRQ has worked to improve patient safety by encouraging health care leaders to implement new consensus standards that will help prevent medical errors. You are also helping rural hospitals invest in information technology so that patients' records can be computerized and up to date. Thank you for your service. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, "Lives of great men all remind us
Throughout his career, our friend John Eisenberg dedicated himself to ensuring that patients have the highest quality, safest health care possible. And his commitment and enthusiasm for this goal inspired colleagues within the Department of Health and Human Services and across the federal government. He left deep footsteps on the sands of time. When John got sick, he not only showed great courage in battling his illness; he even wanted to continue working and continue to improve American health care for others. Since the day he joined AHRQ in 1997, John was an exceptional leader who built a motivated and dedicated team. He coordinated and led government efforts to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety. Largely through his efforts, improving patient safety and health care quality are top national priorities. I knew from the first time I met John that he was passionate about excellence in research and improving the quality of health care. He knew that the quality of our health care affects not only our health, but also our quality of life. Part of John's legacy was to ensure that our system translates scientific evidence into better health for everyone. And this building represents the culmination of that legacy. This building not only bears John's name, it also fulfills one of his priorities: allowing all AHRQ staff to work together under one roof. He appreciated the idea that a single building for all of AHRQ meant improved efficiency and better teamwork within the Agency and for its customers. But John's greatest legacy is the excellent staff of AHRQ, who work every day to help ensure that American health care remains best in the world. If he were here today, I know he would be as proud of you as I am. At the funeral of President Grant, President McKinley said, "A great life never dies. Great deeds are imperishable; great names immortal." Although it was shorter than we would have liked, John led a great life. His great deeds are imperishable, and continue through your work. And his great name, on this building and in our hearts, is immortal. We were privileged to work with John as a colleague, but we were even more proud to call him a friend. And as one friend to another, it is my honor and privilege to dedicate the new AHRQ building to our friend Dr. John Eisenberg. Last Revised: July 25, 2003 |
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