Vermont SCR 10: Senate concurrent resolution honoring University of Vermont Medical Center and University of Vermont pediatrician extraordinaire Dr. Lewis R. First

Bill Text

R-309 Page 1 of 2
2026

VT LEG #389115 v.1
No. R-309. Senate concurrent resolution honoring University of Vermont Medical
Center and University of Vermont pediatrician extraordinaire Dr. Lewis R. First.
(S.C.R.10)
Offered by Senators Lyons, Baruth, Brennan, Chittenden, Gulick, Mattos, Ram
Hinsdale, and Vyhovsky,
Offered by Representatives Houghton of Essex Junction, Arsenault of Williston, Austin
of Colchester, Berbeco of Winooski, Bishop of Colchester, Black of Essex, Bluemle of
Burlington, Brady of Williston, Brown of Richmond, Burkhardt of South Burlington, Cina
of Burlington, Critchlow of Colchester, Dodge of Essex, Dolgin of St. Johnsbury, Duke of
Burlington, Garofano of Essex, Graning of Jericho, Headrick of Burlington, Kleppner of
Burlington, Krasnow of South Burlington, Krowinski of Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne,
LaLonde of South Burlington, Logan of Burlington, Minier of South Burlington, Nugent
of South Burlington, Ode of Burlington, Pezzo of Colchester, Pouech of Hinesburg,
Rachelson of Burlington, Squirrell of Underhill, Steady of Milton, Stevens of Waterbury,
Stone of Burlington, Sweeney of Shelburne, Tomlinson of Winooski, Waters Evans of
Charlotte, and Wood of Waterbury
Whereas, one of the most respected academic and hospital chief pediatricians in the
United States is Dr. Lewis First, and
Whereas, as a magna cum laude biochemical sciences graduate of Harvard College, the
holder of an M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School, the recipient of a master’s degree
in epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health, and a former chief pediatrics
resident at the world-renowned Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. First has impeccable
professional credentials, and
Whereas, since 1994, he has chaired the pediatrics department at the Robert Larner,
M.D. College of Medicine (the Larner College of Medicine) at the University of Vermont
(UVM), which is the longest tenure of any medical school pediatrics chair in the nation,
and, since 1995, Dr. First has also been Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health’s
chief of pediatrics, and
Whereas, under his dual leadership roles, pediatrics at both medical institutions is
considered state of the art and child and family focused, and has garnered national and
international recognition, and
Whereas, not only is Dr. First an outstanding administrator, clinician, and teacher, he is
an admired scholar of pediatric medicine, and, for 16-plus years, he served as editor-in-
chief of the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics, and
Whereas, his healthcare outreach has extended beyond students, patients, fellow
physicians, and scientists with his weekly First with Kids video and radio series, and
Whereas, Dr. First is the recipient of many honors, including the UVM Alumni
Association’s George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award, the Larner College of
Medicine’s Distinguished Educator Award, and the Vermont Medical Society’s
Distinguished Service Award, and he was in the first cohort of the National Academy of
Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics, and

R-309 Page 2 of 2
2026

VT LEG #389115 v.1
Whereas, he is now concluding his most praiseworthy career, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors University of Vermont Medical Center and
University of Vermont pediatrician extraordinaire Dr. Lewis R. First, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Dr. Lewis First, the Larner College of Medicine, and Golisano Children’s Hospital.