AFMR turns 75 this year! So many extraordinary and dedicated individuals have contributed to the success of AFMR since it was established in 1940 – the year Franklin Roosevelt was re-elected President for the third time, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, and Bugs Bunny first asked, “What’s up, Doc?” Here in kicking off a year-long anniversary celebration, we share with you a compilation of great essays with history, contemplation, humor and candid experiences from AFMR’s past presidents. They frankly shared the ups and the downs during their tenures as president of this organization, from the boardwalk of Atlantic City to the Omni Shoreham Hotel in DC where the presidential balls were held, to how one of the most important congressional bills supporting the development of physician scientists got unexpected attention thanks to one of Washington DC’s more famous indiscretions. They describe how through AFMR they met their heroes, embarked on their careers, made changes in national policies, learned how to lead, and in one case even met their spouse – becoming in the process the heroes and luminaries of today.
Over these 75 years, AFMR changed the face of research and medicine by sponsoring Nobel prize winning research, advocating for policy changes at the national level, and providing an environment where colleagues from different fields can learn and teach each other. AFMR has grown with its members from being trainees to national leaders, and is now again experiencing unprecedented growth. Over the last year, AFMR has funded more than 140 awards and research projects, published more than 100 original reports in the high-impact Journal of Investigative Medicine, organized four regional meetings (East, West, South, Midwest), co-organized the Translational Science meeting, and is in partnership with the NIH, FASEB, Research America, ACTS, and Doris Duke Foundation among many others, as the leaders in advocating and supporting medical research. Today, as one of the longest-running and largest organizations for interdisciplinary medical research in the nation, I am delighted to report AFMR has grown from national to international prominence and now has members from all over the world. As our AFMR family continues to flourish, with the expertise of experienced members mentoring tomorrow’s leaders, understanding the success of AFMR’s past will ensure the same tenacity, vitality, curiosity, and youthful energy for the next 75 years.
I am honored, privileged and humbled to preside during this important year and I look forward to sharing the world class research of our entire AFMR family of members with you throughout our 75th anniversary year. I am particularly grateful to the AFMR National Council and the 75th Anniversary Committee for their outstanding work, expertise and dedication. We can proudly tell Bugs that the docs have been up to quite a lot, and we’re stronger than ever.