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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Michael J. Keating, a clinical professor and |
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researcher who has earned acclaim for his transformative |
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contributions to the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is |
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retiring in 2023, after nearly five decades of service at The |
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University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and |
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WHEREAS, During the last 30 years of his career, Dr. Keating |
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has dedicated himself to the study of chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
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(CLL) in hopes of improving survival rates and one day developing a |
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cure for the disease; his research has yielded groundbreaking |
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findings related to the use of fludarabine to treat CLL patients, |
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and in only a few decades, the efforts of Dr. Keating and other |
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researchers have revolutionized the medical community's |
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understanding of CLL and helped improve the complete remission rate |
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from this type of cancer from 5 percent to more than 50 percent; and |
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WHEREAS, While survival rates for CLL have greatly increased, |
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Dr. Keating has remained committed to the search for a cure for CLL, |
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which has resulted in the development of highly effective, |
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low-toxicity drugs that are in common use today; he established the |
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CLL Global Research Foundation, which to date has provided more |
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than $31 million to researchers all over the world who are making |
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significant strides in CLL research; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Keating has been recognized with numerous |
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accolades for his achievements, including the Service to Mankind |
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Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America in 1988; he |
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was also a recipient of the Charles A. LeMaistre Outstanding |
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Achievement Award in Cancer and the Rai Binet Medal in 2002 and was |
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honored by his peers as one of the "Giants of Cancer Care" in 2018; |
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along the way, he has earned the admiration of his patients for his |
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warmth, empathy, and optimism; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Keating |
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obtained a medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1966; |
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he completed medical residencies in Australia before coming to the |
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United States to serve as a Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in |
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1974; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the support of a loving family |
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that includes his fiancée, Shari, his four children, and his five |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Michael Keating's tireless dedication to his |
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profession has made him a champion for patients with CLL and a |
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driving force in CLL research, and his many accomplishments will |
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continue to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Michael J. Keating on his |
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retirement from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
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and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Keating as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |