Back in Washington for the National Academy of Medicine Annual Meeting.
There is something special about returning to Washington for the National Academy of Medicine Annual Meeting. This year, the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and look toward the future of science and medicine felt especially meaningful.
A highlight was hearing from the presidents of the three Academies: Monica M. Bertagnolli of the National Academy of Medicine, Neil H. Shubin of the National Academy of Sciences, and Tsu-Jae King Liu of the National Academy of Engineering. With fresh leadership across all three, there is a powerful opportunity to deepen collaboration and bring their collective voice to the challenges ahead. We are so proud to have Monica as our new president!
The optimism and energy throughout the meeting were inspiring. At a challenging time for science and medicine, I found encouragement in these leaders’ confidence, shared purpose, and commitment to working together.
What I value most about these meetings, though, is the people. The sessions spark ideas; the hallway conversations help them grow. They also renew friendships built over decades and help form new ones.
Between sessions, my friend and colleague Dr. Joan Miller of Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear and I stepped out into a brilliant blue October day and walked to the Lincoln Memorial. Standing on those steps, we reflected on our shared responsibility to put science and medicine to work for the public good.
I left grateful to the NAM staff and leadership—and to the colleagues whose ideas and friendships continue to inspire me. These gatherings remind me that our work’s enduring influence lies in the people who carry it forward.
My memoir, Radiant, written with Dr. Smitha Gollamudi, will be published by Koehler Books on January 5, 2027.