Physicians For Peace To Honor Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist With Charles E. Horton Award

NORFOLK, VA (03/20/2008)(readMedia)-- Physicians for Peace, an international organization focusing on medical education in developing nations, announced it will award former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., the second annual Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health during the organization’s Celebrating the Nations Gala on Oct 4, 2008. Senator Frist will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. The award was given last year to Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, noted expert on global development and Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

Dr. Frist currently serves as the Frederick H. Schultz Class of 1951 Visiting Professor of International Economic Policy at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. “To receive an award bearing Dr. Horton’s name is a tremendous honor,” Frist said. “Medicine can serve as a currency for peace throughout the world, bringing hope to those in despair and forging new alliances in even the most remote corners of the globe. Physicians for Peace is a shining example of that principle, and I’m grateful for their tremendous work.”

Dr. Frist, who devoted 20 years to practicing medicine as a cardiothoracic transplant surgeon before entering public service, represented the state of Tennessee in the United States Senate from 1995 to 2007, serving as Senate Majority Leader during the final four years of his tenure.

Senator Frist, upon retirement from the senate, returned to his hometown of Nashville where he continues his life of service. Dr. Frist remains active in issues of global health and development, including partnering with Save the Children to chair the global Survive to 5 campaign, which seeks to provide basic health interventions that can save more than six million children around the world each year.

Senator Frist and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle have also partnered to co-chair the ONE Campaign’s presidential initiative, ONE Vote ’08, which engages the presidential candidates of both parties and the public on issues of global health and extreme poverty. He also serves on the boards of the Hope through Healing Hands Foundation, Africare, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience, the Montgomery Bell Academy and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project as well as the Dean's Council of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Dr. Frist’s work in the field of global health aligns with the Physicians for Peace mission to foster medical diplomacy. As he recently wrote in the Yale Law and Policy Review, “Health is a unique vehicle that crosses boundaries in times of war and distress, and in times of suffering and turmoil. Working to improve the health of our fellow man sends a message that speaks to our common humanity and serves as a vehicle for peacemakers.”

The Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health is bestowed in honor of the late Physicians for Peace founder, Dr. Charles E. Horton, Sr. Horton, an internationally recognized humanitarian, founded Physicians for Peace in 1989 and served as its leader until his death in late 2006. Through Horton’s leadership, the organization has touched the lives of thousands of patients and doctors in more than 50 countries around the world.

“The career of Dr. Frist is a wonderful example of public service,” noted Physicians for Peace President and CEO, Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.). “His segue to humanitarian work following his retirement from the Senate is an inspiration to all Americans. His leadership and commitment to solving the problems of healthcare in the developing world will be an invaluable addition to these ongoing efforts. Physicians for Peace is proud to honor him with the Horton Award.”

ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE

Physicians for Peace is an international private voluntary organization that mobilizes healthcare educators to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Through effective, hands-on medical education and training, clinical care and donated medical supplies, Physicians for Peace creates long-term, sustainable, replicable, and evidence-based projects to help partner nations build medical capability and capacity to help themselves. Volunteers for the 501© (3) nonprofit organization have conducted medical missions in more than 50 countries. More information is available at www.physiciansforpeace.org.

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