Serving on the Council and as President of the AFCR (1992–1993) was one of the highlights of my academic life. It was a very exciting time to be starting a career in clinical investigation, and while we all worried about the imminent disappearance of the physician-scientist (some things never change!), we all held fast to our belief that an academic physician could be a great clinician as well as an outstanding translational investigator and mentor.
The AFCR’s major organizational effort at that time was working to increase the NIH and VA research budgets by meeting with members of Congress, lobbying to legitimize fetal tissue transplantation research for Parkinson’s and other diseases, and, of course, organizing the annual Tri-Society Meeting with the AAP and the ASCI. This Meeting was always well-attended and it truly allowed young investigators to meet and exchange ideas with senior physician-scientists. In the evening, we would make the rounds of the somewhat raucous parties that many of the housestaff training programs held for their alumni, allowing us to catch up with old friends. However, the most enjoyable part of the year was the Council Meeting we had on the Big Island of Hawaii, complete with a trip to the volcano in addition to the interminable meetings. The Council that year was composed of a truly extraordinary group of young men and women who ultimately became Division Chiefs, Department Chairs, Deans, and even a Provost. It was a great honor and privilege to work with each of them.