The Manhattan Project for the 21st Century

Senator Bill Frist
06/02/2005

En route back to Washington ...

A few hours ago I delivered the Health Care Policy Fifth Annual Marshall J. Seidman Lecture at Harvard Medical School. I saw a lot of my medical colleagues including my former surgical mentors and medical deans. My talk, "The Manhattan Project for the 21st Century," focused on the American (and global) threat of infectious disease and bioterrorism. I outlined my vision of how to prepare the United States and the world to respond to inevitable pandemics and outbreaks that may be natural, accidental or intentional (bioterrorism). The highlight of the talk for me was the discussion period during which many medical students and residents asked questions about how they could personally participate in the global health challenges of our times.

Below are a few excerpts and a handful of the legislative priorities (which have the dual purpose of fighting both bioterrorism and natural pandemics). I have also attached the full speech. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the 109th Congress to bolster America's preparedness against bioterrorism and infectious diseases.

More to follow on this important initiative in the days ahead.


Bill Frist

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