HR0773 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0773 LRB095 13953 KXB 39750 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Dharmapuri Vidyasagar on his retirement from the University of Illinois-Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1971 Dr. Vidyasagar established the first neonatal intensive care unit with ventilator support in the State of Illinois at Cook County Hospital; he went on to found the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which has provided an underserved community with world-class emergency care for newborns for over three decades; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Vidyasagar effected the regionalization of perinatal care in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in improved perinatal care throughout the Midwestern United States; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Vidyasagar's numerous contributions to research on surfactant usage and meconium aspiration syndrome have been integral to the advance of treatment in neonatal pulmonary care over the past quarter century; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Vidyasagar established an accredited training program in neonatal and perinatal medicine and has trained over 70 neonatologists currently providing care around the world; Dr. Vidyasagar has made it his mission to help reduce neonatal and infant mortality through transfer of technology to developing countries; he has conducted training sessions and provided free consultations on the establishment of modern neonatal intensive care units in nations around the globe including China, India, Poland, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, and many others; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Vidyasagar was hired by the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1974 to establish the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Illinois-Chicago; he became a full Professor in 1977; he served as head of the Division of Neonatology for thirty-two years and continues to serve as the director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Vidyasagar and his wife have three grown children; his retirement celebration will be held on November 2, 2007; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Dharmapuri Vidyasagar on his retirement and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Dharmapuri Vidyasagar as a symbol of our respect and esteem.