The Congress of Future Medical Leaders recently took place in Lowell, Massachusetts.
I attended as an observer with my daughter, who is a rising senior, recruitment slang for a high school student entering her senior year.
Organized by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, this conference attracted thousands of young delegates.
A cross between convention, lecture marathon and group hug, it took place in the cavernous Tsongas Center of the University of Massachusetts.
You may recall Sen. Paul Tsongas as a presidential candidate who ran against Bill Clinton years ago in the Democratic primaries. Despite a storied career of public service, he died at a young age.To this day he remains a favorite son of his hometown of Lowell.
The venue was therefore somewhat inspiring from the get-go.
A parade of Nobel Prize winners spoke, including Sir Richard Roberts, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1993 for research on the genetic material known as RNA.
Professor Leland Hartwell, 2001 Nobel laureate, described his research on cell biology, derived from yeast cell studies.
Professor Mario Capecchi, 2007 Nobel laureate, performed research on gene manipulation in mice, which may ultimately result in cures for inherited diseases.
Capecchi also described surviving throughout World War II after his Italian mother was taken to a concentration camp. He was only 4 and fending for himself. He was reunited with his mother and moved to America.
Dr. Michael Brown, of Southwestern Medical School, described the nine steps necessary to achieve a Nobel Prize, which he was awarded at age 44 along with collaborator Dr Joe Goldstein in 1985.
The amazing thing was Browns description of his high school years in Philadelphia, spending time building ham radios, playing baseball and rarely studying.
Georgetown University Dean Stephen Ray Mitchell described ongoing efforts to treat diabetes and chronic diseases in our nations capital city.
Dr. Rick Sacra described humanitarian missions to Liberia and his survival after contracting Ebola virus infection. His message emphasized the importance of serving others.
Not all the speakers were doctors.
Larry Hester, the recipient of a bionic eyeretinal implant system called the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis Device, described having partial vision restored after 33 years of blindness.
Carmen Tarleton, one of the worlds first recipients of a full-face transplant, described her road to recovery after being disfigured and blinded in a horrifying attack involving industrial-strength lye.
The stories all carried the theme of surviving and persevering, for doctors, researchers and those facing physical challenges.
Inventor Jack Andraka cooked up a new diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer in his kitchen at age 15. He is now attending college at Stanford.
Similarly, teenager Julian Cantu of Mexico developed noninvasive tests for detecting breast cancer using material from microwave ovens. He is still a teen.
Shree Bose, currently a medical student at Duke, discovered ways to overcome chemotherapy resistance when she was just 17.
Janelle Tam developed cellulose particles that fight aging, although she is herself a youthful graduate of Princeton University.
The last day of the conference included a talk by Dr. Shelley Hwang, a breast cancer surgeon who is pioneering a less invasive treatment approach to that disease.
The students also observed laparoscopic abdominal and chest surgery, broadcast live from an operating theater miles away.
We just scratched the surface of what we saw at the Congress in this brief column.
Master of Ceremonies Richard Rossi periodically appeared on stage, shouting, Energy, baby!
It worked for me. The conference no doubt propelled future medical leaders toward career success. Inspiration, along with perspiration, combine to foster advances in medicine.
Scott T. Anderson, M.D., Ph.D. (email [emailprotected]), is a clinical professor at University of Califoria, Davis Medical School. This column is informational and does not constitute medical advice.
Read the rest here:
Congress of Future Medical Leaders inspires tomorrow's doctors - Fairfield Daily Republic
- IOM not webcast today. Why Not? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- National Academies skeptical at Best. [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Some Confusion Exists [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Why DTC Genomics IS Medicine. [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- First Mari, Now Linda. Who's next? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Is it true? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Re-Reviewing the National Academies [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The problem with nonclinicians....... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Crazy Night of Emails to Government [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Adrienne Carlson's Personalized Medicine. [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Tell Me, How do you feel now? Sherpa's RX [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- This Just In. 23andMe to go to GPs. I love my readers!! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Sorry so long away [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- 2D6 Rears its ugly head..... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Ok, Fine, Back to Plavix [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Kaiser a protoype for Collins' Aim [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- A few months late to the party.... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Stated Another Way....... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Excuse Me? Harvard and Navigenics? WTF? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Follow up to Yesterday's WTF? Harvard, Navi? and Pfizer??? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Did you get your kit? Thanks Dr. Rob from MedCo [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Gluco...Wha? Parkinson's Disease and Glucocerebrosidase mutations. [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Away and now back, What did I miss???? 23andme layoffs? Selling Genomes for cheap up next! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Change IS Needed. I agree with William, sometimes. [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Good Enough Science? Apparently so at 23andme [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Long QT Syndrome, location matters [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Congratulations Generation Health. Nice pick up! [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- An argument 23andSerge can't win...23andme but not medicine [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Stop. Breathe. Repeat. An analysis of the direction of DTC Genomics Field. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Hey DTC genomics, Stay Private, Stay Alive, Go Public and Die [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- You can't have it both way. Either scared your genome is sold off or not. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- 15 Days Away Gives Time for Perspective. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- What about the SACGHS registry? Another missed opportunity? [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- AJHG is in and my Favorite Muin is in it! But He Is NOT the Father! [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Navigenics for 23andMe prices? [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2009]
- Lp(a) Maybe there's something there that wasn't there before? [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2009]
- Another Year, Another Bankruptcy [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2009]
- 5 Technologies going bye bye in this decade? [Last Updated On: January 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 6th, 2010]
- Hackers, HITECH and HIPAA in DTC Genomics, Oh My! [Last Updated On: January 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 7th, 2010]
- Personal Genomics Flop.....big Belly Flop! [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2010]
- Gotta Love It. Even the daycare....... [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2010]
- Congratulations Navigenics. You ARE a clinical lab! Uh-Oh... [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2010]
- CETP, Jewish Centenarians and Alzheimers [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2010]
- Enter the "Not" DTC Genomics Rep [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2010]
- Why Dr. Vanier's Navigenics appointment is good for PM [Last Updated On: January 22nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 22nd, 2010]
- Holy Crap! MedCo Follows in CVS footsteps [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2010]
- FDA, Warfarin, still not as sexy to me. [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2010]
- Hype, Hype, Hype from a single study. [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2010]
- I love my readers, even Renata M! [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2010]
- How can insurers use DTC genomics to profile? [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2010]
- 9p21.....ahem. Paynter et.al. Smackdown. Again. [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2010]
- Hey! It's Pete Hulick! Are you Going to GET? [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2010]
- I was wrong......AHEM [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2010]
- G2C2, finally a tool for genomic education! [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2010]
- Just 4 million? What 23andMe is worth. [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2010]
- What a difference a year makes [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2010]
- ........DTC Genomic Medicine? [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2010]
- The FDA, 2c19 and the ACC [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2010]
- The problem with Comparative Whole Genomics...... [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2010]
- BRCA testing by 23andME is the same as Myriad Genetics. [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2010]
- The Argument Against DTC Genomics Marketing and such [Last Updated On: March 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 16th, 2010]
- A moment of Clarity. Some DTCG is not bad. [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2010]
- SNPs for breast cancer risk? It Depends. [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2010]
- How can MDVIP use Navigenics Test for Medicine? [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2010]
- Why did P&G invest in Navigenics? [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2010]
- PGx in DTCG? Doesn't stand up to Useful testing. [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2010]
- End of Gene Patents? [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2010]
- Sherpa Accepting Chief Medical Officership [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2010]
- The Rumors of My Death........ [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- Happy DNA Day! [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2010]
- 99 USD, DNA day and patient letters [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2010]
- 2C19, Navigenics and Clinical Reality. [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2010]
- Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative rising [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2010]
- Personal Genomes in Clinical Care. Quake paper is a waste! [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2010]
- Personal Genomes in Clinical Care. Quake paper Falls Short! [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2010]
- Last post edited by Drew [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2010]
- GateKeeper? FCUK U! [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2010]
- GateKeeper? F! U! [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2010]
- Potential of genomic medicine, LOST [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2010]
- How Bad Can a House Investigation be for DTC Genomics? [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]