BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES. INC. UPTON, LLL N.Y. TEL. AREA CODE S!6 4022813 11973 YAPHANK 4-6262 REFER: MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 7 December 1971 Dr. John R. Totter MEPOSITORY DoE/,PAs 7 COLLECTION 0 £ “wv Director BOX No. United States Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. 20545 FOLDER Division of Biology and Medicine o£ /wV [dar “Exo #3 ~ B/0- MEO, OR.CONHAD or rHeY (2/1/9228 7 Dear John, As you know, there have been serious difficulties in en forcing a satisfactory treatment program in the Rongelap thyroid . cases, Dr. Conard has found that the employment of a Marshallese health aide has not resulted in satisfactory treatment, and he is anxious to have a physician in the Islands for a prolonged period of time to straighten out the therapy program. Dr. Knud Knudsen who has been on the medical staff of Brookhaven National Laboratory since 1964 and participated in the last Marshall Island survey has expressed his willingness to spend a year in the Mar- shall Islands and endeavor to straighten out the thyroid treatment program and assist in general with the health care of the exposed Marshallese. Dr. Knudsen is an excellent clinician and in view of his interest in the project and obvious capabilities demonstrated during the recent survey, Dr. Conard feels that his efforts in this regard will be most valuable. The conditions under which Dr. Knudsen would agree to this is that he would be able to live at Kwajalein and have his family with him. Dr. Knudsen has expressed interest in continued assistance and participation in the Marshall Island program and the experience gained by his year in the Islands would be invaluable in this regard. As mentioned in the past and incorporated into our Six-Year Forecast and 189, the need for obtaining a replacement prior to Dr. Conard's retirement (seven years hence) has been considered. Though this may appear premature, I recommend that Dr. Knudsen be considered for this position and believe that the arrangements discussed here would permit him to become better acquainted with the project and in a better position to assume responsibility for the project when the time comes. In the meantime, he would continue his major research interest working with Dr. Dahl's program on hypertension. Dr. Conard feels that Dr, Knudsen is well fitted to be his replacement. 400195 ‘