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(Earleen Elkins and her husband Jim Lebo, Dec.
2001)
Earleen Elkins died on January 26, 2002. Just as
her society, the ARO, began its 25th annual
Midwinter Meeting. Just as some 2000 of us gathered
to report our new knowledge and the "truth" as we
knew it, on the sciences of hearing and
communication disorders. Just as she had always
encouraged and helped us to do. She touched many of
us directly and changed our lives for the better,
as scientists and as people. She touched all of us
through her constant and most effective advocacy of
our field. Her legacy will be felt for decades.
Earleen died on January 26th, much too soon. A few
comments by just a few of her friends follow, with
great apologies to all those that would have wished
to contribute.
Josef Miller, Ph.D., Professor, U Michigan
Lynn and Ruth Townsend, Professor, Karolinska
Institutet
I am convinced that Earleen Elkins came into my
life as gift! When I was a novice lobbyist, she
became my guide and mentor, teaching me how to
decipher the language of science in order to
explain auditory research in simple terms to
Congress.
I first met Dr. Elkins in 1985, when she was
head of the hearing program at the NINCDS. At that
time, I was seeking more funds from the government
for deafness research through the Neurology
Institute, and I met with Dr. Elkins with several
staff members to discuss this. She so impressed me
with her enthusiasm and knowledge that I was
anxious to meet with her again. In future
conversations, we discussed how much of the
Neurology budget deafness and communication
disorders received and what it would mean if that
could be increased.
It was as a result of these conversations, that
I decided to lobby for a separate Deafness
Institute. Earleen became my precious friend,
teacher and confidant. Her advice was invaluable
and I will always be grateful for her counsel and
friendship. We could not have done what was done
without Earleen's enthusiasm, knowledge, loving
interest and guidance! She was the woman behind the
scenes that made it all possible.
Earleen devoted her time and energies to this
field and to the scientists who work in it. The
scientific leaders of today have been nurtured,
guided and taught by her; and those of the future,
will owe more to her than they will ever know. Like
a mother hen she advised and encouraged, in grant
writing and in the laboratory to perform successful
experiments, to seek answers to meaningful
questions, and to seek the truth.
When the NIDCD was created, she served as the
Chief of its Scientific Review Branch of the
Extramural Program before becoming the Deputy
Director of the Division of Extramural Activities
and the Acting Director of Extramural Activities.
When she retired she became a cherished and welcome
private consultant to the field.
What she gave will be felt for generations. I
will always miss her.
Geraldine Fox, Ph.D.h.c.
President, National Organization for Hearing
Research
Dr. Elkins facilitated science. This was
accomplished in many ways - the encouragement of
investigators; advocacy of ideas and projects;
honest constructive criticism of proposals;
accurate feedback of the study sections critiques;
promoting, when necessary, objectivity at study
section; and a constant respect for quality. Her
superb 'people' skills allowed for the development
of numerous careers all of which added to the body
of science that is the basis for our understanding
of communication disorders (CD). Her dedication to
the sciences underlying CD is exemplified by her
crucial and here to fore little known role in the
establishment of the National Institute of Deafness
and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). On
October 14th 1987 a small group met at the Cosmos
Club in Washington DC to discuss the establishment
of the new institute at NIH which ten months later
became the NIDCD. Dr. Elkins provided some of those
present with information as to the amount of
resources that was allocated to CD in the National
Institute of Neurological and Commutative Disorders
and Stroke (NINDCS). These data were instrumental
in gathering further support for the NIDCD and were
used at a meeting of the National Committee for
Research (a public advocacy group for NINDCS) on
the 5th of November 1987 and as the basis of a
presentation at the Association for Research (ARO)
1st of February 1988. Dr. Elkins met in Bethesda
and shared information concerning the status of CD
research on the12t of February and the 2nd - 4th of
April 1988. Her honest and forthright sharing of
albeit public - but hard to gather - information
gave the substance for the rational for the
establishment of the NIDCD in its present form that
impressed the member of Congress, most critically
Representatives Pepper, Waxman and Porter and
Senators Harkin, Spector and Kennedy and belied the
claims of one professional group. The NIDCD exists
today because of Dr. Elkin's commitment to the
sciences of CD. The world is very much better place
because of Earleen Elkins PhD.
Robert J. Ruben, M.D.
Distinguished University Professor, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine
Earleen Elkins was a major contributing force in
my life for nearly a quarter of a century. She
taught me everything I know about writing a grant
and about negotiating the maze of bureaucracy at
NIH. When I was on study section, Earleen helped me
through a number of contentious site visits,
practically holding my hand during the first one I
chaired. She was also my favorite career advisor,
always available and unflinchingly honest, bringing
a refreshing dose of reality to what seemed to me
to be confusing and complex situations. And I have
no doubt that scores if not hundreds of my fellow
ARO members would have exactly the same things to
say about how Earleen touched their lives. For me,
and for Doris as well, what was more important was
the close personal friendship we were fortunate to
share with Earleen and her "best friend" Jim.
Although circumstances prevented us from seeing
each other more than a few times a year, there was
never a doubt that when we traveled to North
Carolina (or Florida in recent years) we would get
together for dinner and drinks and lots of laughs.
It was like going home to family, so we often
modified our plans to be sure that it would happen.
We also swapped house keys, so that when the
weather got nasty we could check on each other's
houses on the Outer Banks. I can't recall how many
times when a hurricane or nor' easter went through
and we were a thousand miles away we got a call
telling us that our house was still standing. It's
just what friends do; Earleen was one of a
kind.
Fred Wightman, Ph. D.
Professor, University of Wisconsin
Earleen was a major force in the research lives
of so many in auditory and otolaryngic science. I
first met her when organizing the first of our
national research conferences in 1982. She helped
steer me through the pitfalls of R13 grants and
conference etiquette. It was then that she
introduced me to the work she started at the
Framingham Heart Study, which I was privileged to
continue. My only lament was that I could never
beat her on the golf course. Her wonderful husband
Jim was just as good (on the course and off). What
a pair! Her behind-the-scenes work prior to the
establishment of the NIDCD was never made public,
at her request, yet was so important in the
process. Earleen was always a straight shooter. She
told you what you needed to hear, not what (often)
you wanted to hear. We are all richer for her
contributions.
George Gates, M.D.
Professor, University of Washington
Dr. Earleen Elkins joined the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) in 1976 after
serving at the Department of the Army and at the
Veterans Administration. During her tenure at NIH
she served both NIDCD and NINCDS in extramural
program leadership roles. At NINCDS Earleen served
as program officer and provided help and advice to
many investigators as they built their careers in
communication disorders. At NIDCD Earleen served as
chief of the Scientific Review Branch and acting
director of the Division of Extramural Affairs,
until her retirement in 1996.
Earleen was an active participant across NIH,
not just within NIDCD and NINCDS. She served as
mentor to many program and review professionals at
NIH and was involved in numerous forums where NIH
policy was developed. Dr. James Battey, Jr.,
director of the National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders characterized Earleen
Elkins as "a person of great energy who delighted
in outstanding science and, especially, in
encouraging young investigators."
She was on the faculty of the department of
hearing and speech sciences at the University of
Maryland, where she taught audiology and
statistical methods. One of Earleen's NIH Clinical
Center colleagues particularly remembers her as a
"dissertation advisor and mentor to many
appreciative graduate students and
professionals."
In addition to her drive and commitment, Earleen
is remembered by many for the high level of energy
she demonstrated every day. As one friend said, "I
pictured her laughing and enjoying the (golf)
course for at least another 20 years...it was just
too soon and too sudden." Her NIH colleagues share
that sentiment and saw the same energy and
enjoyment in Earleen during her many years of
Federal service.
Craig Jordan, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch, NIDCD/NIH
Marin P. Allen, Ph.D.
Chief, Office of Health Communication and Public
Liaison
I called her, "My Earleenie" and she was my best
friend. Earleen was a very private person. She had
many interests. She was an avid golfer and sports
enthusiast. She loved her University of Maryland
Terrapins. We rarely missed either a home football
or basketball game until our retirement in 1996.
She was also an excellent cook and loved to
entertain. We built two homes together and her
talents as a very accomplished seamstress and
interior decorator made both places symbols of our
enjoyable life together. Most of all, she loved her
family and the people in her scientific community.
I was so very fortunate to be her husband and to
have the opportunity to meet many of Earleen's ARO
friends. She was a most remarkable person; a
vibrant and beautiful woman and we miss her. She
impacted many peoples' lives.
She believed in basic research. She molded a
professional career where her exceptional people
skills, scientific education and superior
management expertise were melded together to help
the members of ARO better understand how to compete
for NIDCD funds. She dedicated many hours of her
private time to provide information and data to
help support the successful effort for an
independent hearing institute. I witnessed and
shared her joy when NIDCD was formed and she was
able to return to her chosen field of hearing
science. When she retired in 1996, she was so
pleased to have her professional achievements
recognized by her peers. The family is so touched
by the notes and cards we have received from
Earleen's ARO friends. On behalf of myself, her
daughter Karen Moore, and sons Bob and Bill Elkins
we thank you for your expressions of sympathy and
kindness.
Jim Lebo
Karen Moore
Robert Elkins
William Elkins
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