Undistinguished Heroics

I’ve always loved comic books and superheroes. There is a case to be made for them and this post could have been about that. However, they never inspired me. What is the point in admiring fictional heroes, when there are so many that live amidst us. They make real contributions, that change our lives one little discovery at a time.

Scientists who envision possibilities and make these discoveries, get the credit and they deserve every bit of it. However, there are a large number of people working behind the scenes to make them possible; from the technicians and grad students who slave away in the laboratory to the staff that maintains these facilities. We don’t know them, we don’t see them, but they are here and they are real. They are heroes and this post is dedicated to all of them.

Johns Hopkins has been at the frontier of medical research for the past 100 years. It is home to my favorite hero, Dr. Vivien Thomas, a technician turned surgery instructor. I would like to thank every single body that has ever worked there, for inspiring me and for continuing to do so.

Calling