Winter 2001 Issue
New York Gala Honors Epidemic Intelligence Service
On Thursday, January 11, 2001, hundreds of friends and supporters - including corporate, foundation, community and government leaders - gathered at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York City to commemorate 50 years of achievement for CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS). The celebration kicked off the EIS 50th anniversary year and raised more than a half-million dollars in contributions for the EIS and related programs.
The event was a tribute to EIS officers who, over the past five decades, have traveled throughout the world fighting health threats to communities and populations. The evening began with a special reception for honorees hosted by Pfizer Inc., U.S. Pharmaceuticals. Guests mingled in the splendidly decorated ballroom and enjoyed the stunning moonlit view of New York City. Later they danced to the big band sounds of the Kit McClure Band and were treated to the premier viewing of a special anniversary video documenting the accomplishments of the EIS and CDC.
Gary Noble, M.D., EIS ‘65, and Tom Vernon, M.D., EIS ‘66, served as co-chairs for the event host committee. Serving with them were members of the CDC Foundation Board of Directors and EIS alumni, including Jeremiah Barondess, M.D., EIS ‘51, a member of the first EIS class.
During the program, CDC Director Jeffrey Koplan, M.D., EIS ‘72, shared his unique perspective on the EIS, having served as both an EIS officer and now director of the agency that administers the EIS. “The brave, dedicated public health officers who comprise the EIS have been on the front lines of the most challenging health threats to our nation and to the world,” he said. “People are healthier and safer because of their sacrifices and accomplishments in controlling and preventing disease,” Dr. Koplan said. Three other former CDC directors - James L. Goddard, M.D., M.P.H.; David J. Sencer, M.D., M.P.H., EIS Hon ‘75; and William L. Roper, M.D., M.P.H. - were also at the event to salute the accomplishments of the EIS.
Dr. Koplan presented CDC’s Champion of Prevention Award to four notable honorees. Given at the discretion of the CDC director, this award recognizes extraordinary individual efforts in support of public health and unwavering commitment to the health of people throughout the world.
The recipients of the Champion of Prevention Award were Nancy Goodman Brinker, founder, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; Harold P. Freeman, M.D., president, CEO, and director of surgery, North General Hospital, New York City; Bernard Marcus, chair, the CDC Foundation and chairman and co-founder, The Home Depot; and James D. Wolfensohn, president, The World Bank. Each honoree received an engraved silver magnifying glass, a traditional symbol of the “disease detectives” and CDC.
The anniversary celebration brought together some of CDC’s and the CDC Foundation’s most committed friends and supporters. Chairman’s Circle ($50,000+) sponsors included Johnson & Johnson; The Marcus Foundation, Inc.; Merck & Company, Inc.; Pfizer Inc., US Pharmaceuticals; The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Wyeth-Ayerst Research & Wyeth Lederle Vaccines. Champion ($25,000) sponsors included Delta Air Lines, Inc., TRW and The UPS Foundation. Benefactor ($10,000) sponsors included Edelman PR Worldwide; General Electric; Kansas Health Foundation; Pharmacia Corporation; and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Supporter ($5,000) sponsors included Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute; American Home Products Corporation; American Legacy Foundation; AstraZeneca; Aventis Pasteur; The Home Depot; Horizon Communications, Inc.; NYU School of Medicine; and Science Applications International Corporation. Many other groups and individuals, including former EIS officers, bought tables and individual tickets.
The EIS 50th Anniversary New York Host Committee members included: Jeremiah A. Barondess, M.D., EIS ‘51; Seth F. Berkley, M.D., EIS ‘84; Guthrie S. Birkhead III, M.D., EIS ‘85; Martin J. Blaser, M.D., EIS ‘79; Michael D. Decker, M.D., EIS ‘82; Sally Faith Dorfman, M.D., EIS ‘80; Annie D. Fine, M.D., EIS ‘96; David W. Fraser, M.D., EIS ‘71; William T. Friedewald, M.D., EIS ‘65; Pierce Gardner, M.D., EIS ‘63; Michael B. Gregg, M.D., EIS ‘66; George E. Hardy, Jr., M.D., EIS ‘66; John L. Ho, M.D., EIS ‘79; Michael E. Kafrissen, M.D., EIS ‘81; Philip J. Landrigen, M.D., EIS ‘70; Robert S. Lawrence, M.D., EIS ‘66; Marcelle Layton, M.D., EIS ‘92; Neal Nathanson, M.D., EIS ‘55; Gary Noble, M.D., EIS ‘65; Stanley A. Plotkin, M.D., EIS ‘57; William Schaffner II, M.D., EIS ‘66; Steven A. Schroeder, M.D., EIS ‘66; Martin-Jose Sepulveda, M.D., EIS ‘80; Allen C. Steere, Jr., M.D., EIS ‘73; Theodore F. Tsai, M.D., EIS ‘76;Thomas M. Vernon, M.D., EIS ‘66.