Curing cancer requires teamwork. Teamwork requires teams. Teams work best when they are united by common purpose, a unified culture, and the commitment of everyone to each other and to their shared objectives. In other words, we do best when we work together as a community. This important set of truths was reinforced for me by several different events this past week.
On Monday, we celebrated the recent promotions of Cecil Han and Ayesha Shajahan-Haq in E501 with a potluck reception. The warmth and camaraderie of the assemblage was a reminder of what we (and almost everyone else) lost due to the pandemic. Nothing beats actual human contact. With that in mind, I propose that we initiate get-togethers in the E501 conference room, perhaps on Wednesdays once per month in the late afternoons — a type of “TGIW” if you will — sponsored by one or two research groups, which would be responsible for providing some snacks. I’ll take care of the drinks. Each group would get 5-10 minutes to present an overview of its work, and the rest of the TGIW would be devoted to informal conversations. If folks think this is a good idea, then we’ll circulate a sign-up list.
The middle of the week was dominated by board meetings — first, the Committee on Medical Center Affairs on Wednesday, followed by a board dinner at the Renwick Gallery, and finally the general business meeting on Thursday. Our thoughts were with Jack DeGioia and his family as he continues working on his recovery. Yet, his work continues, led by our Provost and EVPs, with the full engagement of the board and with the continued commitment of the Georgetown community. The strength of this community and the power of our shared values continue to inspire our work. This is a reflection of Jack’s vision and example, lighting our path forward.
Then, I had the privilege of attending the Dickson Lecture dinner on Thursday evening, hosted by Jane Dickson and attended by so many of Georgetown Lombardi’s foundational leaders and scientists who were Bob Dickson’s colleagues and dear friends. We welcomed Leena Hilakivi-Clarke (this year’s lecturer) and Bob Clarke, who traveled here from the “wilds” of Minnesota, and former Lombardi cancer center directors Marc Lippman and Kevin Cullen. Just about everybody at the dinner was part of the NCI crew that moved to Georgetown with Marc, setting our cancer center on an upward trajectory that continues to this day. More importantly, these inspiring leaders, clinicians and scientists were a true family, sharing an extraordinary connection that drove their work and bonded them for life. Bob Dickson was the glue guy for that group. He justifiably is revered to this day, nearly two decades after his untimely passing, because he transformed a group of researchers into a community of transformation. They did better work because they worked together, and they were happy because they worked together.
Finally, Harriet and I attended yearly Yom Kippur services (the holiest day on the Jewish Calendar) and heard our congregation’s chief rabbi, Danny Zemel, deliver his final Yom Kippur eve sermon, as he is retiring in June. A man of deep humanity and moral conviction, he described how he strived over his 40+ year tenure to reimagine a Jewish community that is attuned to the present and future, respecting but not chained by its past. He has accomplished that miracle, leading a congregation that is very much committing to addressing the urgent moral issues of our day through righteous action based on Jewish values and ideals. He can never be replaced, but his eventual successor will have the opportunity to build on the extraordinary foundation he has established.
Finally, a reminder; this Friday, October 18, will mark the annual Potter Lecture, to be delivered this year by two rising stars. Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, PhD, will speak on the topic of addressing disparities in hereditary cancer through community-engaged research. Sreejith Nair, PhD, will describe his work to explore hidden targets and mechanisms of action of classic cancer drugs. The lectures will be given at noon in the auditorium of the New Research Building. This lecture series honors the memory of Lombardi’s founding director, John Potter, MD. John had the vision and the persistence to establish this cancer center, and all we do came to pass because he established this community. Please honor his contributions and the accomplishments of our speakers by personally attending this lecture.
Community. Jack DeGioia; Bob Dickson; Danny Zemel; John Potter. This has been an extraordinary week for me, inspired by the power of community and by the examples of people who have built them. I am humbled and inspired by their examples. I hope, in my own way, to contribute to the betterment of our Lombardi community. I certainly will try.
Make the world a better place this week.
Lou
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