While it is not quite time to break out a rendition of “September Song,” (the best version of which I have heard was by Jimmy Durante, of all people), summer is clearly racing to the finish line. It has been busy, due to CCSG Site Visit preparations – we had an all day prep session last Monday, to be followed by this coming Wednesday’s day-long mock site visit with our External Advisory Committee. I find myself practicing my talks on a daily basis.
One of my most important meetings last week was with folks on the S-Level, to hear more about the issues that still need to be addressed to allow them to do their work in an appropriate environment. I am grateful for everyone who has endured various interruptions in their work due to flooding. We are working hard with GUMC and GUH to be sure we stay on track.
My clinic was pretty busy this week. I am putting many of my patients on waiting lists for the anti-PD1 antibody clinical trials that will open here in September. It is exciting to be able to offer patients with desperate problems the opportunity to participate in cutting edge clinical trials of new agents that have genuine clinical promise. And, it is exciting to be able to offer this opportunity here at Lombardi!
I was out of the office on Friday, as I went on a road trip with Mike Atkins, Beppe Giaccone and Sharon Levy up to MedStar Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore to discuss clinical research collaborative opportunities. It was a productive day, and we look forward to strengthening these ties. Speaking of Sharon, she does a genuinely remarkable job in organizing our clinical research operations. How she can get everything she does accomplished in only 15 hours per day, ten days per week is beyond my understanding! But I sure am glad to have her on our side – she is another of Lombardi’s precious assets.
This will be my last blog until after Labor Day. Harriet and I leaving town next weekend to spend about a week in Philly with our kids to watch Ella and kick back just a little bit.
See you in September!