High Integrity Science + Collaborative Teams = Success

Posted on | September 8, 2012 | Comments Off on High Integrity Science + Collaborative Teams = Success

Mike Magee

“We’re on a mission to move this nation forward—from doubt and downturn, to promise and prosperity. A mission we will continue and a mission we will complete…..it has never, never, ever, been a good bet to bet against the American people.” Vice President Joe Biden – September 6, 2012

The Vice President’s words were still ringing in my ears when I viewed a remarkable video from my brother Danny that captured the sheer joy of success when a group of diverse, high-integrity scientists, working tirelessly as a committed team, over a protracted period of time, in pursuit of a goal bigger than themselves, finally meet success.

It drew to mind how I felt on Match Day back in 1978 in Syracuse, NY, surrounded by my SUNY, Upstate medical school classmates, as we together shared the communal joy of successfully completing a four year effort to serve science and humanity.

These high-minded feelings reflected then and in the video you must watch well portray what the American Medical Association, in the wake of 9/11, did their best to describe in it’s May 1, 2001 DECLARATION OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY: MEDICINE’S SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH HUMANITY. In this important document, the AMA and its’ physician members declare, “Humanity is our patient.” Though the context is different, I am quite certain the scientists in the video above share the belief that they too labor on behalf of humanity.

What is the source of the joy expressed here? I believe it is the result of high integrity scientists, working as a close knit team, to overcome challenges together, and succeed in the service of humanity. At the end of the day, the celebration is not about money, fame or fortune – its about making a difference in people’s lives and in their future.

In the AMA’s declaration, it says “As physicians, we are bound in our response by a common heritage of caring for the sick and the suffering.” And this true. But to experience the joy found in this video, health care professionals need to face forward, and discover together how to become creators and discoverers of health in addition to focused and repetitive fighters of disease.

For Health Commentary, I’m Mike Magee