Optimism, persistence, and our collective crystal ball.

Abstract

Thank you indeed to Christopher Plowe for the very generous introduction—I think it was perhaps too generous. Chris showed the list of fellows and students who have worked with me at National Institutes of Health (NIH), and great credit really goes to them. I have been fortunate and privileged to have been surrounded by the brilliance of all of these individuals and their accomplishments through the years. Also, Chris did not name himself in the photographs with our Malian colleagues, instead referring to himself only as one of the “less talented” fellows. Not at all! In fact, Chris was overly generous to me when he spoke of our field work in Mali on chloroquine resistance. It really was Chris' project with Abdoulaye Djimde while I was collaborating on much of that work. So I return the credit for that to Chris, with the comment that it was particularly rewarding to see the impact on health in the villages where we collaborated with our Malian colleagues to deliver relatively inexpensive medicines that worked wonders. Tonight marks the end of a wonderful experience for me as your ASTMH President. The period has left me with lasting memories, new colleagues, and friends. And it is a great satisfaction to say that this extraordinary Society continues to grow in strength and collective voice as the leading international organization of scientists and clinicians dedicated to tropical medicine and global health. ASTMH is alive with an abundance of positive spirit and teamwork in our membership. This year we have held our largest and most successful Annual Meeting ever, with over 3,400 registrants. We have also seen excellent progress in areas of membership, policy and advocacy, media communications, and awards program funding. Time does not allow me to thank by name everyone who made this progress possible. However, I would like to express my gratitude to some individuals in particular: • To Sally Finney, our Executive Director, for her initiative and careful attention to our ASTMH activities this year. These have included the Policy and Advocacy work with Kent Campbell, the upcoming ASTMH Constitution and Bylaws revisions, the launch of our Public Relations Committee, the media relations contract with the MWW Group, and the coordination of our Executive Committee and Council meetings; • To Judy DeAcetis, Lyn Maddox, Matthew Lesh, and their Sherwood Group Colleagues for their attentive care to this year's operations including the meeting arrangements, the drive to boost membership, and the wide-ranging administrative needs of our Society. • To Chris King and the approximately 100 members of our Scientific Program Committee for their contributions of time, thought, and effort putting together a terrific Meeting Agenda this year. • To the members of the ASTMH Council, especially Josh Berman, Peter Weller, Jim Kazura, Ed Ryan, Claire Panosian, Joe Vinetz, Steve Higgs, plus so many other Society members I have not named—thank you all for your generous service to ASTMH this year. • Finally, to my wife Marilyn, daughter Dianne, and sons Alex and Nick and their wives Lauren and Alysen: your love and unaffected eloquence in our family have meant everything to me over the years; and thank you very much for your support through a busy and eventful 2009.