Past Award Winners

2008 James M. Perrin, MD - jperrin@partners.org

2007
Tracy Lieu, MD
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care & Medical School

1. Ask a question that is important to you. You will live with your research topic for a long time and if you really do not care about it, you will quickly lose interest.
   
   
2. Ask it in a way that will be interesting no matter what the answer is. A good question is one in which the answer inevitably leads to another question
   
   
3. Expect to go through lots and lots of revisions of your research proposals and everything you write and give the drafts to "intelligent readers." Take their criticisms to heart and sit down with them to understand the points behind their critique.
   
   
4. Listen to the critique of others, but have the conviction to follow your instincts. Incorporate only comments you understand and agree with, because in the end you must be the one to take responsibility for the final product...
   
   
5. Don't be turned off by lack of interest of others, because the topic isn't hot or because you are in uncharted territory. Important issues have a way of surfacing over time.
   
   
6. The changes in the health care system will undoubtedly create new research opportunities for the generalist pediatrician.

Where will our future contributions come from?

As in the past they will come from careful and systematic clinical observations - by those who think analytically about the clinical materials, who ask questions and note relationships that others take for granted; and from careful and systematic clinical studies to test hypotheses, although these may be somewhat fewer and less well funded than in the past.

But they will come increasingly from analyses of patterns of care and from the burgeoning field of outcomes research. In the last two realms many studies will utilize administrative records and large data files. This is a new frontier of the data age. Work in these arenas will require the development of new paradigms, collaborations, and research skills, particularly in terms of learning to manage large-scale data sets. As we move increasingly into these fields, we will need to be vigilant to assure that the interpretations do not go beyond the data.

Finally, research contributions will come as always from the minds and determination of the creative and bright young faculty who fill the ranks of this organization in growing numbers.

I want to close by leaving you with

Ruth's Research Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

One good question - Select one that is like an onion, so that when you peel it you uncover another layer.

A dash of creativity - This adds to the flavor, but can be omitted if the question is extremely good.

Generous helpings of: determination, persistence, and hard work

Sufficient support -- informational, affirmational, emotional, and practical...and hopefully financial if available. (You can mix and match these types to achieve the proper seasoning.)

An ounce each of ambition and chutzpah (The latter is an ethnic specialty found in Eastern European shops that is sold under a variety of other names.)

Plenty of Good Luck!

INSTRUCTIONS:

Let the question simmer until fully ripe. Consult with experienced cooks for help in cleaning and preparing properly. Add creativity. Combine determination, persistence and hard work, and apply liberally to the question. Mix in support from family, colleagues, mentors, and funding agencies, if available in season. Finally, sprinkle liberally with lots of good luck.

So to all of you, I say, "Have fun cooking and keep the faith!" We are going through some tough times, but you are all imaginative and can find new ways to push our science forward - and once again, THANK YOU so much for this award.