Investing in excellence.

Abstract

G iving a presidential address is obviously not an activity that one becomes an expert at. My only prior experience was ages ago, in 1971 in Atlantic City, addressing the American Federation for Clinical Research. Lacking much experience, I started reading the addresses of my predecessors. After about 20 or so presidential addresses, it became obvious to me that almost every challenge has been raised; every problem has been discussed. Everything from fraud to traditions has been covered. One president even quoted the psalms and urged the membership to join him in singing a new song in celebration of the joys of our academic careers. ’ Finally, I came to the presidential address by Kurt Isselbacher in 1978.* He started his speech by saying, “Every president views this moment with great trepidation. In preparation, he may make the mistake of reading previous addresses, an activity which serves only to enhance his anxiety.” He was absolutely right. My level of anxiety had reached its peak. Is it possible that there is nothing left to say? Do not answer that question. I am not going to do what some of you may think. Among the multiple activities of a department chairman, one of the most important is the recruitment of new faculty. Young new faculty are the vigor, the life, and the future of our departments. I would like in the next 15 minutes to share with you some of the questions of the young recruits and my attempts at responding. I have been challenged by their questions, inspired by their hopes and aspirations. I have been asked to predict their future, the future of academia, the future of Iowa, and even my own future. I would say the mental, physical, and emotional effort that goes into recruiting one good faculty would be equal to at least one good Journal of Clinical investigation paper, and for a division director, two or three JCI papers. In my