Fall 2011 Newsletter
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Polly A. Marchbanks Centers for Disease |
President's Corner
"AT EVERY POINT ON THE CAREER LIFE-COURSE, WE ALL HAVE GIFTS TO SHARE, AND
WE ALL HAVE LESSONS TO LEARN. THIS IS WHY WE NEED SER, AND THIS IS WHAT SER IS ABOUT - SHARING, LEARNING, AND CONNECTING."
Dear Colleagues and Friends...Greetings! I have been in my new position as President of SER since June 2011, and this President's Corner is my first. From the vantage point of my "inaugural corner", I have three observations:
First, I see a strong and vibrant organization filled with an amazing constellation of epidemiologists along the full maturational spectrum - some of us are beginning students, some are early or mid career professionals, some are senior experts with worldrenowned reputations, and some are emeritus epidemiologists with an enduring passion for our field. At every point on the career life-course, we all have gifts to share, and we all have lessons to learn. This is why we need SER, and this is what SER is about - sharing, learning, and connecting
Second, I see a well-managed organization. The SER Board and SER Staff are a pure delight - they are organized, dedicated, and progressive. Their collective energy and enthusiasm yield a wealth of fresh ideas.
Third, I see a newsletter that is informative and fun. To alert you to a few highlights in this issue. . .You will read a wonderful synopsis of the 3rd North American Congress of Epidemiology from the 2011 Co-Chairs, Jonine Bernstein and Leslie Bernstein. Although many members of numerous organizations contributed to the success of this conference, we owe Jonine and Leslie a special debt of gratitude for their service. Societies are convening to discuss plans for possible future Congresses. Also, in this newsletter you will learn about an innovative initiative for emerging scholars, updates from our student and post-doc committee, information on our annual student dissertation workshop, and plans for the first ever Student Workshop Reunion Reception. Additionally, you will read a personal history of SER from Lynn Lyon, and get an inside peek into the lives of two leaders in epidemiology: Mary Haan and Noel Weiss. Discover the cities where they were born, where they like to vacation, what advice they give to students, and more.
In closing, I am honored to be President of SER. Thank you for your confidence and support. My own concluding piece of advice is: pay particular attention to Bernie Harlow's article, "Welcome to the Twin Cities". Our next SER meeting will be in Minneapolis, June 27-30, 2012, and Bernie points out excellent reasons why you should attend. Your SER Board is working hard to make this an exciting opportunity to share, learn, and connect. Mark your calendar, and we hope to see you there.