NEW YORK CITY, June 30 - Dr. D.A. Henderson delivered the Anniversary Discourse at the Academy’s 156th Annual Stated Meeting, held on June 25 at the Museum of the City of New York and attended by 165 Fellow, friends and staff of the Academy. Henderson’s speech, entitled “Bioterror: Prospects and Preparedness,” described the nation’s efforts to prepare against biological weapons since the September 11 terrorist attacks, and outlined the severity of the weapons’ threat to America.

Pictured from left to right: D.A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., who gave the Anniversary Discourse at the Spring Stated Meeting; Wayne A. Hendrickson, Ph.D., recipient of The Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science; David A. Hamburg, M.D., recipient of The John Stearns Award for Lifetime Achievement in Medicine; Marvin Lieberman, Ph.D., J.D., co-recipient of The Academy Plaque for Exceptional Service to the Academy; Jeremiah A. Barondess, M.D., President of the Academy; and, Jacqueline Messite, M.D., co-recipient of The Academy Plaque for Exceptional Service to the Academy.

The possibility of bioterror attacks is a real and present danger, Henderson told the audience. The creation of biological weapons, he noted, requires only a garage, three people and expertise. Many scientists who are not necessarily American supporters possess the knowledge to build such weapons, he explained. With the fall of the Soviet Union came dramatic funding cutbacks to the 60,000 biologists and 50 labs that were dedicated to creating biological weapons. Many of the scientists made their way to North Korea, Libya, Iran and Iraq, all rogue states with terrorist activity, he explained.

The federal and state governments have made progress in the last 20 months in recognizing the threat of biological weapons and developing preparedness plans, Henderson said. Among the accomplishments was the creation of the Office of Public Health Preparedness, whose name emphasizes the need to treat the use of biological weapons as an epidemic. The first responders to a bioterror attack will not be firefighters and police, but will be doctors, nurses and public health professionals, Henderson said.

A $1 billion allocation from this office to state governments has led to round-the-clock emergency phone line coverage in most states, better emergency communication systems, 100 labs equipped to identify biological agents, and the ability to securely isolate 500 acute-care patients in each state. In addition, 200 million doses of smallpox vaccine were created within 18 months, resulting in 12 stockpiles of vaccine that, along with respirators and antibiotics, could be delivered to any U.S. city within 12 hours. Referring to the recent string of unexpected, non-terrorist biological threats that have taken lives and challenged the nation’s health professionals—including West Nile virus, SARS and monkey pox—Dr. Henderson said that he has had “enough surprises to last a lifetime” in the past two years.

But one positive development has resulted from these health emergencies, he said. The nation’s public health and medical structure has been made stronger than ever before.

In addition Dr. Henderson's discourse, awards for achievements in medicine, science and for service to the Academy were given at the Stated Meeting. Academy Trustee David A. Hamburg, M.D., President Emeritus, Carnegie Corporation of New York, was awarded the John Stearns Award for Lifetime Achievement in Medicine. Wayne A. Hendrickson, Ph.D., University Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University was awarded with the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science. Two stalwart Academy friends jointly received the Academy Plaque for Exceptional Service: Marvin Lieberman, Ph.D., J.D., President, New York Citizens’ Committee on Aging and Jacqueline Messite, M.D., Former Executive Director, Public Health at the Academy.

Posted on 06/30/2003

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