Support for Dr. Thomas Walsh

We, the undersigned, strongly support Dr Thomas Walsh regarding the upcoming Public Health Service (PHS) review involving National Institutes of Health (NIH) sanctions. We are concerned that Dr Walsh may not be provided due process, given the recent Congressional Hearing testimony from NIH and PHS officials. Dr Walshs reputation as a physician was called into question in such a malicious manner, that we believe it is necessary to set the record straight concerning this man who has dedicated his life to healing others.

Dr Walsh is an outstanding physician and investigative scientist with 20 years of service at the National Cancer Institute and over 400 peer-reviewed publications. He has made outstanding and enduring contributions to the medical field through his work at both the NIH and the Public Health Service. As a clinician at NIH, Dr. Walshs efforts have helped saved the lives of many patients through direct care and hundreds of consultations with other physicians locally and throughout the nation. He has served as a PHS officer numerous times in national and regional disasters, including at ground zero on 9/11, the anthrax attack, and hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For example, during his service to the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, disaster, he was in charge of three missions, including serving as the PHS commander for the Alexandria, Louisiana shelters, where his team saved the lives of elderly and chronically debilitated evacuees from Lake Charles and West Lafayette nursing homes during hurricane Rita.

Dr Walsh combines brilliance and dedication towards medicine with exceptional care and kindness to all patients. His contributions have been recognized by the NIH community through numerous awards, such as, the NIH Distinguished Clinical Teachers Award, the highest clinical award bestowed upon NIH senior clinicians. Through his research he has improved the lives of thousands of pediatric and adult patients with cancer worldwide.

Dr. Walshs compassion extends well beyond the boundaries of his professional responsibilities. He freely gives medical advice to all who seek it. He provides compassionate care to all those seeking his help. It is not uncommon for him to make unheard of house calls to check on a sick infant or child. His kindness and devotion also extends to the local community, as demonstrated by his support of Montgomery Countys Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), whose goal is to advocate on behave of abused and neglected children.

Dr. Walsh is the sole supporting provider of a family of four and partial supporter of a disabled father. For having not completed the appropriate paper work for his outside activities, Dr. Walsh already has sustained major loss of salary (denial of special pays), blockage of important awards, including those from service in hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and denial of PHS promotion.

We believe that the sanctions that NIH and PHS have already imposed on Dr. Walsh appear fully to address his mistakes. As voters and taxpayers in Maryland and elsewhere, we are looking for support to protect Dr. Walsh from any further harsh actions beyond those he has already endured. We respectfully ask simply that the PHS allow Dr. Walsh to continue in his position at NIH to save lives there and elsewhere through his rare combination of world-class research, dedicated care for patients, and inspirational teaching. We thank you for your review of our collective appeal.