Look Who's Talking

This month, Clinical & Research News asks:

Who is your medical or scientific hero? Tell us who inspires you, whether it's someone who has made a groundbreaking discovery, performed a first-of-its-kind procedure or simply goes above and beyond to help patients or colleagues.

Clinical & Research News visited some of the research labs at 65 Lansdowne St. in Cambridge to ask this month's question on camera, and six other members of the members of the physician and research community sent in their responses below. 

Joan Bengtson, MD

Joan Bengtson, MD
Gynecology

Dr. Kenneth Ryan is one of my medical heroes.  He was chief of OBGYN during my residency. Not only was he a brilliant basic scientist, he was a true leader in endorsing the reproductive rights of women, and in ensuring his residents had a rich learning experience.  

Jeanne Duffy, PhD, MBA

Jeanne Duffy, PhD, MBA
Department of Sleep Medicine

Marie Curie (born Maria Sklodowska). She was not only an excellent scientist in an age when there were few women scientists and professors, but she was able to achieve her ultimate success despite having to overcome enormous obstacles to do so. Her story is an inspiration in that it shows how strong family support and dedication can help you overcome what seem like impossible odds.  

John Lewis, MD

John Lewis, MD
Faulkner Community Physicians

Dr. Katherine McGowan (chief of Infectious Disease at FH) for her outstanding patient care.

Alexander Lin, PhD

Alexander Lin, PhD
Department of Radiology

My medical and scientific hero is my long-time mentor, Dr. Brian D. Ross, MD DPhil(Oxon) FRC Surg, FRC Path.  A physician-scientist who trained under Sir Hans Kreb himself, Dr. Ross has been recognized world-wide for his efforts to translate the basic biochemistry of magnetic resonance spectroscopy into clinical diagnostic tests for a wide variety of diseases included cancer, Alzheimer's disease, metabolic disorders, and was very much the basis of my own research into traumatic brain injury.  I have always been inspired by his ability to distill different concepts from various fields into answering medically important issues, and that is something that I have strived to impress upon my own students.  While multidisciplinary research has recently become more popular, it is pioneers like Dr. Ross who paved the way for such efforts.

Anu Swaminathan, PhD

Anu Swaminathan, PhD
Biomedical Research Institute

One of my favorite scientists is the physicist & Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman. Feynman who was also known for his role as a ‘popularizer' of science inspires me because of his passion for science and his wonder for nature which is evident to anyone...scientist or otherwise who has heard his interviews. A scientist who made immense intellectual contributions yet retained a child like curiosity for things unknown and who could talk about complex scientific topics in a manner that is understandable and more importantly appealing to the non-expert is a rare breed and we need more scientists like him to revive the dwindling interest in science as a calling.    

Neil Wagle, MD,  MBA

Neil Wagle, MD, MBA
Department of Medicine

Charles Darwin. He saw something that was there for anyone to see, but that no one else did, and the resulting paradigm shift he ushered in has had an immeasurable effect on humanity.