Senate Resolution No. 482

BY: Senator COMRIE

COMMENDING Douglas Scherr, MD upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Douglas Scherr, MD upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, to be celebrated at its 15th Annual Screening & Health Fair on Saturday, March 30, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, this free, educational and interactive event provides basic preventive medicine and medical screening to people in the community; men and women over the age of 35 have the opportunity to be screened for prostate cancer, tested for HIV and hearing loss, and attend nutritional counseling sessions; individuals can also have their blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked, and diabetics, their blood sugar levels; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, Dr. Douglas Scherr has graciously donated his time and energy to ensuring this event is a great success year after year; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Douglas Scherr earned his bachelor's degree in government from ; after a year teaching English in Shenyang, China, he completed his medical training at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.; following this, he completed a six-year residency in at The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, and then pursued a Fellowship in Urologic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for two years; and

WHEREAS, Since 2001, Dr. Douglas Scherr has been a Professor of Urology and the Clinical Director of Urologic Oncology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University; he also holds an appointment at the in New York; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Douglas Scherr's clinical focus is the treatment of urologic malignancies, in particular, the treatment of prostate cancer, , kidney cancer, and testicular cancers, as well as genitourinary and retroperitoneal sarcomas; he has published extensively in the areas of bladder and prostate cancer as well a wide variety of other urologic malignancies; and WHEREAS, Dr. Douglas Scherr was the first physician at Cornell to perform a robotic prostatectomy; he has since performed hundreds of these procedures and travels nationally and internationally teaching the procedure to many urologic surgeons; he has expanded his robotic practice in Manhattan to now include robotic-assisted removal of bladders with total bladder reconstructions; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Douglas Scherr has an active role in the Laboratory of Urologic Oncology; he has been instrumental in defining the hormonal regulation of bladder cancer and is now developing a novel class of compounds that utilize the innate immune system to fight urologic tumors; and

WHEREAS, Devoted to his profession, Dr. Douglas Scherr is a vital member of several advisory boards in companies involved in urologic technology development; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, and three children, all of whom have shown their love and support and rejoice in his many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Douglas Scherr, MD upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Douglas Scherr, MD.