This has been an interesting and somewhat tiring week! Our grandson has been staying with us since last Friday while his mom and dad are in Argentina for a marine ecology meeting. Isaac is simply wonderful, but he is, after all, just a couple of months past his second birthday, and so is a lot of work. He talks up a storm, understands just about everything, and has very clear ideas about how his life should proceed. In short, he would make a wonderful member of Lombardi! Like many Lombardi people he likes to keep late hours, and wakes up very early on occasion. His personal best so far was 4:45 am a few nights ago; he was ready for breakfast and wanted to play. One of his favorite blankets has a series of multicolored dots arranged in a rectangular pattern; naturally, we now call it his “microarray” blanket. His mom and dad will be back in town on Monday afternoon; we’ll miss him terribly, but will console ourselves with some sleep.
The blur of diapers, nighttime stories, messy meals, hugs and kisses did not prevent me from getting work done (Thank you, Harriet!). On Monday, Bob Clarke and I were invited by Chet Gillis, dean of the College, to speak with the department chairs at the College. It was a great opportunity to share our perspectives regarding the value of the Medical Center, and I believe we opened some eyes. For example, they now have a clearer idea of the importance of our research to the University’s Carnegie Rating as a Very High Research Intensive institution, and how that rating contributes to our ranking in US News and World Report.
Tuesday was spent at the NCI for my first meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors. This body reviews the NCI intramural program. I was deeply impressed by the high level of rigor in the review process and by the responsiveness of NCI leadership to the BSC recommendations. I then hurried back to the campus to see a patient of mine who is in the hospital. She is a relatively young woman with a recently diagnosed metastatic pancreatic cancer. Her disease has worsened at a rapid pace despite chemotherapy, and I had to have a difficult conversation with her and her family to recommend hospice care. I look forward to the day when having this conversation becomes less and less necessary because we have figured out better prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.
This is not a fantasy; just ask Mike Atkins. He helped host a melanoma symposium at the Leavey Center on Saturday, where remarkable advances in the treatment of melanoma were discussed and celebrated. As few as three years ago, these patients had about as much hope as pancreatic cancer patients; that has changed dramatically. Stated simply, that is the transformative power of research.
Wednesday was Harriet’s birthday, and we celebrated by going out for dinner. And I will always remember Thursday. This year’s GUMC Convocation focused on health disparities, and honored Dr. John Ruffin from the NIH for his work to put this important challenge on our nation’s radar. At the ceremony, awards were handed out to faculty (including Dick Schlegel for his research accomplishments) and to a handful of students. Among these students was our son David (M ’14) for his work to establish the “Baking Soda Project” to reduce catastrophic fires in rural Haiti caused by indoor charcoal cooking. To sit as a member of the platform party and see our son recognized for his humanitarian contributions was a special moment for this proud father. It really brings the concept of cura personalis closer to home.
On Sunday David and I were the guests of Dr. David Milzman, a GUMC faculty member who is an ER doctor at the Hospital Center, and one of David’s mentors, at the Redskins-Eagles game. One team had to win, and that team most certainly could not be the Eagles, who have unraveled completely. But, the Redskins deserved to win, and RGIII is certainly a playmaker and a winner. Frankly, I don’t think I can credibly say, “We’ll get ’em next year”; but, hope springs eternal.
Have a great short week, travel safely if you are doing so, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.