Courage

Last night +Alexander Anderson hosted a going away party for me. It was a lot sadder than I thought. I am going to dearly miss the people in the IMO, and Moffitt Cancer Center in Radiation Oncology and elsewhere that I've worked with over the past 7 years. While there was a lot of silly-ness, in particular some of the funny shots of me and others from IMO over the years displayed on the big-screen:

There were also some sad farewells

Farwell my old friend, your passion for science, honesty & collaboration will be missed more than you can comprehend pic.twitter.com/IgNDjrGr1y

— Sandy Anderson (@ara_anderson) June 30, 2016

The whole evening reminded me how strongly I feel about the work we're doing in the IMO, and also of the courage it took to create such a place. Originally started by +Alexander Anderson and Bob Gatenby the IMO, when I joined was about 5 people: the two fearless leaders and +David Basanta , +Edward Flach  and +Kasia Rejniak. In the intervening (only 6) years, it has grown to nearly 25 people, with 5 faculty members. I say it took courage to start, because at the time it began, mathematical oncology was nearly an unknown phenomenon. Since, however, it has become much more accepted - supported by specific initiatives from the NCI like the Physical Sciences in Oncology Network (formerly PSOC, now PSON) as well as the Integrative Cancer Biology Program.

The work is meaningful to me on many levels. First, the fact that we're chasing down the fundamental principles of a disease which has proven largely impenetrable for most of human history is intellectually satisfying. But moreso, for me at least, it brings hope to my time in clinic, when times become difficult. The fact that I can take that energy back to the lab lifts me back up and drives me to work harder, and also let's me reassure my patients that we're doing everything we can, both for them and for the future.

Moffitt started a new campaign, called the community of courage, to allow researchers and clinicians to talk about what courage means to them. I was flattered to be asked to join this campaign, and through it talked both about the courage I see in +Alexander Anderson and his group to go outside the norm in mathematical onoclogy, but also the courage I see in my patients, who choose to get up and LIVE every day, even in the face of difficult odds.  They made a little video, which you can see below, and also wrote a nice article, which captures what I've said here quite a bit better than I have.

You can find the article here:  https://moffitt.org/media/5161/momentum_vol31_scott.pdf

Next post there will be a post-doc advertisement attached...  so if you know someone who is interested in a post-doc position in mathematical oncology, or in studying the evolution of resistance to antibiotics, let them know there's a new lab coming to the +Cleveland Clinic - mine!  Oh, and also that Cleveland Rocks...