Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Visited Princeton University to Deliver the Inaugural Adel Mahmoud Lectureship and to participate in a Panel discussion with Bill Frist, Andrew McGuire, and Beatrice Hahn at a Symposium on “No Country Left Behind: Transforming Global Health given by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Bill Frist spent some time telling the audience that if it were not for me PEPFAR would not have happened. Had dinner at a Princeton mansion, went to Adel Mahmoud’s and Sally Hodder’s home (where I stayed overnight – beautiful modern Salvatore Dali-like home) for after dinner cocktails with some of the Princeton Faculty. Was very impressed with the commitment to teaching students that I saw among the faculty as well as the competency and popularity of Shirley Tilghman (President). Next day taught a class in the Dept. of Molecular Biology run by Leon Rosenberg and Adel Mahmoud. Spoke about the evolution of my career. Students were great. On evening of April 2, had long interview with Meredith Wadman of Nature who is doing a story on PEPFAR and wanted a bit of the history. April 3 – June 10, 2008 – Very busy and eventful times. Had virtually no time to enter events into diary. We try to summarize. The Democratic primary loomed hot and heavy with Hillary refusing to concede despite the fact that numerically it was impossible for her to pull ahead of Barack Obama. Finally after the Oregon (Obama) and South Dakota (Clinton) primary, she begrudgingly conceded on June 6. April 21 – Participated with Sec. Leavitt in a “Georgetown Conversations” function at the home of April and John Delaney in Potomac, MD. This series is sponsored by Meryl Chertoff (Mike Chertoff’s wife) and Larry Gostin. Bring together a bunch of prominent people in an elegant home and make brief statement, followed by Qs and As and then dinner. Very enjoyable. April 26 – Went to Chicago for the AAP Annual Meeting to induct Bob Seder into the AAP (I sponsored him). Saw Megan and had a nice brunch and then went to L.A. for the Milken Institute’s Annual Global Conference where I participated in 2 stimulating Panel Discussions on Global Health. Greg Simon (Al Gore’s former Chief-of-Staff) got me involved. Met a lot of political financial backers at the meeting. Had dinner at the L.A. mansion (Sunset Boulevard) of Lynda and Stewart Resnick and gave dinner remarks.