2006

Met with David Rubenstein, Founder and CEO of The Carlyle Group. He made me an amazing offer to join the firm as head of a Medical Venture Capital component of the Group. Compensation projected to be in the millions per…

Attended Distinguished Lecture Series at Hilton Hotel with Chris. Lecture by Bono to a crowd of several thousand in the Hilton Ballroom. Bono spoke about his vision, etc. He stopped during the talk to recognize me in…

Gave laudatio remarks at a reception in the Dirksen (430) Building at 6:00 PM (beautiful crisp Winter day) in honor of Peter Piot who was celebrating 12 years at UNAIDS. I reflected about his early days at Projet SIDA…

Took quick trip to NYC to brief the NY Bureau of ABC News with David Westin (President) hosting me. Afterwards, rushed back to DC to do a teleconference with the officials from all of the DC area (MD and VA) school…

Had tea at the Four Seasons with members of the Mothers to Mothers to be (M2M2B) an African Program founded by Dr. Mitchell Besser (Rich Besser’s brother) and involving HIV-infected South African women who have…

Presentations at the White House (East Room) with Laura Bush and Randy Tobias followed by brunch in the State Dining Room. Mrs. Bush thanked me for serving as the Panel Chair. Had good conversations with Kristen…

First day of Spring 2006. Had phone conversation with Carol Kuntz today and she was concerned that there have been “policy time” briefings with the POTUS regarding pandemic flu involving Sec. Leavitt where she thought…

Over the past 2 weeks, there has been continued medium-high interest in the ever expanding bird flu situation with a constant low-level stream of new human cases and more countries getting either migratory birds or…

Had dinner with Tara O’Toole of the Univ of Pittsburg Biodefense Program. She had just testified at the BioShield Hearing on the Hill and wanted to get my perspective on how things were going with the Biodefense effort…

Attended the Annual Gala of the National Hospice Foundation at the Hilton Hotel on Connecticut Avenue, N.W. where I presented the Global Vision Award to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. At my table were Holbrooke, Margaret…

Dedicated Building 33 as the C.W. Bill Young Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Terrific ceremonies with speakers being: me, EZ, Secretary Leavitt, Ralph Regula, Bill Young. Tour of building, many…

Have had continual trickling in of cases of human infections with H5N1 with most recent count of 218 cases and 124 deaths. Fifty countries now have birds infected and 10 have birds and humans infected. Of note that…

I have not been recording this type of thing of late even though I have gone to several of these, but I went tonight to the 18th Annual National Education & Leadership (NELA) Awards Gala at the Omni-Shoreham given by…

Did a one hour face to face briefing of VP Cheny in his West Wing office on pandemic flu. Also present was Carl Kuntz, David Addington (new chief of staff replacing Scooter Libby and Scott Diechman (new health person…

Has been a busy few weeks with relatively mundane institute issues. Weather has been very hot - ~95+ degrees. Two days ago David Stout and Jean-Paul Garnier from Glaxo-Smith Kline called and briefed me on the great…

Went to NYC to participate in the Pandemic Flu Summit at City Hall. Part of Secretary Leavitt’s program of visiting every state and some additional cities within states to talk about pandemic influenza preparedness…

Had a most interesting dinner over Ellen and Gerry Sigal’s house in DC. Guest were Sherry Lansing (Hollywood producer – “Fatal Attraction”, Black Rain” and former actress) and her husband, Billy Friedken (Multiple…

Went to farewell reception at the Atrium of the Equinox Restaurant in DC for Michael Gerson (former speechwriter and current Assistant to the President). Reception given by DATA (Bono’s group) Saw old friends their such…

I played a major role in the 90th Birthday Party for Dr. C. Everett (Chick) Koop at the Cosmos Club. I delivered remarks. The 2 MCs were Hilary Clinton and Orin Hatch. My friendship with Sen. Clinton grows as she…

Attended the swearing in ceremony for Mark Dybul as the U.S. AIDS Coordinator with the Rank of Ambassador at the State Department (Benjamin Franklin Room). Presiding was Secretary Condi Rice with Laura Bush present. I…

A lot of political maneuvering regarding the election of the next Director-General of WHO Kristen Silverberg (now at State as Assistant Secretary) asked me about it at a dinner at Mark Dybul’s house the day before his…

Served on a Panel at the Annual meeting of the White House Fellows Foundation and Association held at the Chamber of Commerce. Subject was “Community Engagement and Preparedness” relating to terrorist and natural…

Went to NIAF annual dinner at the Hilton Hotel with Chris. Usual celebrity show. Many friendly interactions with media (David Gregory of NBC; Sam Donaldson of ABC; etc). Hilarious impersonation of George W. Bush by…

Went to the Grand Opening of the House of Sweden (Swedish Embassy plus offices and art shows) on Georgetown Waterfront (right next to Sequoia restaurant). King Carl Gustav and Queen Sofia were greeting everyone…

Attended and spoke at the Aspen Symposium in DuPont Circle (DC). It was an unusual gathering of Iranian scientists meeting with various US officials, particularly in the Dept. of State and HHS. I was a main speaker and…

Annual Christmas Party at Sam and Jan-Smith Donaldson’s House in McLean. Have been going to these parties for at least the past 10 – 15 years. The usual interesting and warm crowd was there. This party is probably the…

Things mostly quiet on the NIH front. Big problems in Iraq that are dominating the news with insurgency and civil war. Bush is having a very hard time. Democrats have taken control of House and Senate, mostly by voter…

I hosted a press conference to announce the breakthrough study that was prematurely stopped by the DSMB. Study was the use of medically supervised adult male circumcision in Kenya (Kisumu) and Uganda (Rekai) to…

Big White House Malaria Summit sponsored by Malaria No More and Introduced by Laura Bush with the POTUS giving Keynote Lecture. Held as ½ day meeting at the National Geographic Society Headquarters on 17th Street in DC…