Document M4M8Z1ZOwKd6gg1q4RVdjD5kk

INDUSTRIAL UNION DEPARTMENT * AFL-CIO 5, 0lti Stuiucoih Sirect. N W., Wjsnmgion. 13.C. 20000 Area Code 202 393-0581 Mr. Hank Wilson International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades o the U.S. and Canada 1750 New York Avenue. N.W. Washington* D. C. 20006 ?. ^,.y S'iOi v _ *1 FROM PPG FILES Dear Hank: This is in response to your request for personal information on Dr. Selikoff* for his nomination for the Murray-Green Award. The vital statistics are in Who's Who. This is information in addition to the official biography. Irv has made outstanding contributions in these fields: contagious disease-control* health care management and environmental medicine. Contagious Disease As a specialist in pulmonary medicine* Selikoff worked to find a drug therapy for TB. He received the Lasker Award for his successful clinical trial of isoniazine* the "wonder" drug most responsible for bring ing the "white plague" under control. TB at that time was the numb r one occupational disease* particularly prevalent in the garment trades. Health Care Management T~BB_0000909 i He founded the Paterson Clinic* one of the earliest HMO prototypes. The success of the program is best evidenced by the fact that the clinical experience there gave him the first leads on disease among the asbestos workers who were patients. He no longer directs the clinic, but retains week-end privileges, "Week-end privileges" ? Yes, on Saturdays and Sundays he spends his "free" time examining and treating workers from all ov r the world - at no charge. Recently 38 flint glass workers from VICI PRCSIOCHTS: SHMW* AootoMft K<winwn T Blame* P'* IHHMfM Oomintc* DAmoroaro DaW J. Fiiimwmic. AF Maim.* GvWM Aim. C. MW KMA JMinawi WMimp lmc* l hrra MttMW. Chhim H. FWi* Hairy A PM* 5 Frank ftaliwy W V.A. MM AIMT1 SAMI. Jacoe StMMkwwt Can W SluMnroMi Jum*F Toitaw J. C. Turn* 01 1776 SlUnrwn J WM u.hia j war. G--nn fc w.lia WiWram W WMipiarnaar Mr. Hank Wilson December 21, 1978 Page Two Port AUMmny, Pa, chartered a plane and flew in for a Sunday examination becauser^Rptheir asbestos exposures. Nothing unusual to find him doing this. He has successfully stimulated the first HMO-occupational health program in the U. S. (Northern N. J. HMO) and he has been asked to create a special permanent clinic in N^.C by the labor movement. World-wide, he has be come the workers' doctor in New Foundland, Copperopolis (Calif.), Indian apolis - wherever we ask him to gol Environmental Medicine ,, ............... 7 yv . i>tU p-p -^ ^ `-.--j . 1 " * 1 i ^ 3 liut In this field he is best known. His work on the hazards of asbestos has made him the best known doctor in occupational health. But his work on lead, vinyl chloride, dyes, cotton dust, and other contaminants are the most substantive basis for the new OSH.A standards and proposed standards , with little recognition. The first health alert for an occupational hazard * Califano's asbestos alert - is based largely on his work. In this effort, he has been almost alone in asking not only what the problem is, but also in doing almost all the work on how to reduce the exposures and how to treat sick workers for whom OSHA standards are too latel These are some of my thoughts. I conclude by pointing out that the labor movement has never said "Thank You." Isn't it about time? SWSipcs opeiu#2al-cio cc: Jacob dayman George Parker Sheldon W. Samuels, Director Health, Safety and Environment I BB 0000910 I 01 1777