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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | ||||
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| REMARKS BY: | TOMMY G. THOMPSON, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| PLACE: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| DATE: | September 20, 2002 |
Thank you so very much, John (Bergstrom, Marquette University Board member), for your kind introduction. And thanks to all of you for coming to this wonderful event.
I'm especially pleased to see my good friend John Gard, one of Wisconsin's most respected state legislators and an ally in the legislature. John, thank you so much for your support of this beautiful new facility � your role was very important, and we're all in your debt for it.
I love being back in my great home state, and I always love coming to Marquette. I'm a University of Wisconsin grad, but Marquette is, for me, an adopted alma mater.
Now, I should tell you, sometimes when I speak to groups at colleges and universities, I'm a little awed by the collective knowledge before me. I feel a little like the story about Yogi Berra when he was a boy in school.
You see, Yogi was not always an especially strong student. Once, after he'd failed an exam, his teacher came down the aisle and said, with a lot of exasperation, "Yogi, you've sat here day after day yet you're still flunking out. Don't you know anything?"
Yogi looked up and said, "Know anything? I don't even suspect anything."
Well, it's clear looking out at this audience that you know a lot. You know that medical care is one of America's highest priorities. You know that dental care is essential to good health. And you know that world-class dental training can be not just a dream but a reality, right here at the school we love, Marquette University.
This is a historic moment in the history of one of Wisconsin's, and America's, finest institutions. Let me being by congratulating President Wild and Dean Lobb for their visionary leadership.
And thanks to everyone who has given generously, planned wisely and worked diligently to make this long-awaited day a reality.
Marquette holds a special place in my heart. Both of my daughters are Marquette graduates. My daughter Tommi received her MBA from Marquette, and Kelli her law degree. My wife Sue Ann and I always feel indebted to the university for the wonderful education our daughters obtained at Marquette.
In fact, we might still be indebted � I'll have to ask President Wild about that.
Marquette is also home to the Tommy G. Thompson Center for Excellence in Education. We dedicated the Center last April, and I have to tell you that having this state-of-the-art facility named for me is one of the highest honors of my life.
The Center exists within the Raynor Library, which we dedicated last year. The Raynor Library incorporates the best of new learning technologies with architectural beauty and a tremendous, talented staff. And now there's another star in the Marquette constellation - the new School of Dentistry.
I was proud to support the construction of the dental school while governor of our great state. Now, as Secretary of Health and Human Services, quality, affordable dental care for every American is a priority for me, and the new dental school will help us achieve that goal all the more fully.
Since its founding in 1894 as part of the Milwaukee Medical College, the School of Dentistry has offered a first-class dental education to thousands of dedicated young men and women. Since 1907, the School has been an integral part of the Marquette family.
Every year, the school will train more than 300 pre- and post-doctoral dental students using state-of-the-art technology and the finest instruction available anywhere.
It is especially impressive that you are providing training in a real-world environment, as student provide care to patients in the 96-chair main clinic.
You are extending that care to include pediatric dentistry, surgical services and graduate prosthodontics and endodontics. Every kind of dental need will be addressed, and every kind of training will be made available.
My friends, it was Thomas Jefferson who reminded us that, in his words, "Health is worth more than learning." Well, here at the School of Dentistry, you're combining both health and learning in a complimentary way.
And you're doing so not only with the highest quality dental science anywhere, but also with the compassion and ability that are typical of the way Wisconsinites care for one another and for people in general.
Let me leave you with the words of a woman every one of us here admires so very much, one of the great individuals of the 20th century, Mother Theresa. "We shall never know," she said, "all the good that a simple smile can do."
Isn't that true? A warm smile can mean so very much. And here at the dental school, you are helping to ensure that a new generation of Wisconsinites has the capacity to offer warm smiles and caring hearts to everyone.
Thank you so very much for your generosity of hand and spirit � for your support of this great institution � and for giving to the future of our great state and our great country in such a tangible way. I'm so very proud to stand with you and share in this wonderful event.
May God bless you all, may God bless Wisconsin and may God bless the United States of America.