DEVELOPMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY—A RELEVANT ENDEAVOR

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) 1970-08, Vol.46 (2), p.175-186
• Main Author: Kretchmer, Norman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.46.2.175

The Borden Award is usually given to one investigator, but he is always indebted to a group of colleagues, and to his teachers, without whose help and understanding he could not have attained this achievement. My colleagues I will note, but my teachers are many. Biochemistry was taught to me by Dr. G. O. Burr and the devotion of the late Dr. C. P. Barnum. The beauty of the cell, the intrigue of scientific endeavor, and the mystery of syntax and medicine were the gifts of a most exceptional man, Dr. Jean Oliver. Pediatrics and its lure I learned from my teachers and friends, Dr. H. Barnett and Dr. S. Z. Levine. I owe particular gratitude to the faculty and staff of the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University for their tolerance and loyalty. Finally to Miss R. Hurwitz and Miss H. MacNamara I will be forever indebted for their unselfish devotion and efforts in my behalf. It is only fitting that on this occasion I thank all of them for their compassion, understanding, and patience. For some years it has been the custom for the recipient of the Borden Award to review those scientific accomplishments which resulted in his selection. In general, I will follow this tradition, but in view of recent events in Bethesda, and on medical school campuses, I would like to take some advantage of the freedom of the podium and respond to the accusations of irrelevance launched at many aspects of medical science. "We need relevant activities," is the cry not only of the youth of the western world, but also of our relatively conservative government agencies.