Over the past half-century, we’ve split the atom, we’ve spliced the gene, and we’ve roamed Tranquility Base. We’ve reached for the stars, and never have we been closer to having them in our grasp. New science, new technology is making the difference between life and death, and so we need a national commitment equal to this unparalleled moment of possibility. And so I announce to you tonight that I will bring the full resources of the federal government and the full reach of my office to this fundamental goal: We will cure cancer by the end of this decade.
~Sam Seaborn
Two somewhat crazy things: 1) that West Wing episode will have aired a decade ago this coming January; and 2) the drug Dr. Abbey Bartlet’s colleagues were discussing at dinner (which led the President to want to announce in the State of the Union address that we were going to find a cure for cancer in the next decade) was none other than Gleevec or, as they referred to it, a Signal Transduction Inhibitor.
So…I’ve had two exceptionally wonderful weekends in a row that, coupled with the summer fever-induced lack of productivity, has led to mild sense of panic. It’s unfortunate that the first thing I take off my plate to catch up on the “hard science-y stuff” are the lectures on which we’re not tested, namely those of our Doctoring I course. The course might appropriately be subtitled “how to not be a jerk,” so I think there is a tendency among most of us, myself certainly included, to assume that it’s not meant for us personally…it’s for all those other gunners. I didn’t think twice about skipping the talk today. Then I ran into Jin on the ground floor of John Morgan as he was walking to Reunion Hall and I was clearly not:
Jin: “You’re not going to the lecture?”
Me: “No, I don’t think so, I need to VC.”
Jin: “You really should. Dr. Shannon is an excellent speaker.”
He didn’t say anything else; he didn’t really try to convince me. But it’s so rare for a fellow student to share an unsolicited personal opinion about how another student should use his/her “free” time. I have to admit, I was a little taken aback, and I was much more persuaded by this personal recommendation than by the mass email from Suite 100 encouraging us to attend.
I can’t replicate the force of Dr. Shannon’s talk. The manner in which he believed in the possibility of the elimination of ALL hospital acquired infections and medication errors, and in which he urged us to not only aim for but actually ACHIEVE similarly audacious goals…well, it was nothing short of Sam Seaborn material.
Yes, Jin, I’m glad I went. Thank you.
anna in med school 
Credit really goes to Dr. Shannon… I worked with him at UCHC last week and he was a very inspirational and amazing teacher.
For sure, but I’m still appreciative of you as well. I’m glad you had the opportunity to work with him–he seems pretty incredible; would love to hear more about your experience sometime.
a Sam Seaborn moment, indeed! but those never top a President Bartlet moment. Dr. Shannon sort of looks like Victor Garber http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001255
I wonder, might you be including this speech:
President Josiah Bartlet: Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: I don’t say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
President Josiah Bartlet: Yes it does. Leviticus.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: 18:22.
President Josiah Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I’m interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She’s a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here’s one that’s really important because we’ve got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.
And, you’re right! He totally looks like him!
It’s also hard to outdo C.J. Cregg! http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6342724/metacafe_tv_rewind_week_of_april_24_2011/?source=playlist
Weird, that wasn’t the link I meant to include… This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOdrbf5sX_M
“Na” is sodium. Sodium comes from the english word “soda” so wouldn’t it make sense for the periodic symbol to be somehow related to that? No, because “Na” comes from the latin word “natrium.”