HOW IS EVERYONE DOING TODAY? >> AWESOME! >> GOOD, GOOD TO HEAR. GOOD TO HEAR. WELCOME. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW ME, MY NAME IS MARCUS HODGES, I SERVE AS THE FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL BIOSAFETY AND BIOCONTAINMENT TRAINING PROGRAM. THANK YOU TO OUR CELEBRATION TODAY, WHICH IS TRULY HISTORIC. OH, HI! YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TOO? WELL, CLAIRE WANTS TO HELP ME SAY THAT THIS IS TRULY A HISTORIC TIME. ARE YOU OKAY? ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAD A CLASS OF ONE PERSON TO FINISH THIS PROGRAM. WHICH IS TRULY A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DR. JONES FOR MAKING SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THIS PROGRAM IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, AND WE TYPICALLY ACCEPT CLASSES OF TWO TO FOUR PEOPLE. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO COMPEL FELLOWS TO RELY ON EACH OTHER, TO RELY ON EACH OTHER'S SKILL SETS TO GET THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. IT'S INTENSIVE TRAINING. AND FOR ONE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THESE TWO YEARS, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DONE BEFORE, AND IT JUST SHOWS HOW TALENTED, INTELLIGENT AND REMARKABLE DR. JONES IS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. TO GIVE A BIT OF BACKGROUND, THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE. THEY CAME TOGETHER TO FORM THIS PROGRAM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PROVIDING BIOSAFETY PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONALS, THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE BIOSAFETY PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND THIS PROGRAM HAS CERTAINLY MET THAT CALL. I WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE DR. DEBRA WILSON, WHO IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS PROGRAM. THANKS TO HER VISION AND HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, AND I ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU. AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL INVITE YOU TO COME UP AND MAKE SOME REMARKS AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAB MEMBERS THAT ARE PRESENT. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL BRING UP DR. DEBRA WILSON. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. I HAD TO WASH DOWN THE GREEN OLIVES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE DO EACH YEAR BECAUSE IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FELLOWS WHO HAVE FINISHED AND WE'RE SO PROUD THAT YOU WOULD MANAGE TO FINISH THIS PROGRAM ALL BY YOURSELF, AND YOU ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE. BUT PROBABLY ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST WOMEN I HAVE EVER MET, AND YOU JUST KEPT IT ON, KEPT ON GOING, AND UPPERS YOU PERSEVERED AND SUCCEEDED, AND YOU WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS CAREER. BECAUSE BIOSAFETY IS A WONDERFUL CAREER. IT REALLY IS. IT'S EXCITING, IT'S CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING, AND IT LENDS ITSELF TO AN ALTRUISTIC NEED. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP AND WANT TO DO THINGS AND WANT TO BETTER OUR RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND OUR NATION. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE, AND YOU ARE PART OF A LEGACY THAT I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL, MY FORMER FELLOWS, CARRY THIS ON TO OUR NEW FELLOWS AND OUR SENIOR FELLOWS TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO GIVE BACK TO THIS WONDERFUL PROFESSION. AND I HAVE TO SAY, ALMOST TO A ONE OF OUR FELLOWS, THEY HAVE. IT'S TREMENDOUS. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK OUR SAB MEMBERS AND -- LET'S SEE, DR. HUNT AND JANET PETERSON, AND DR. MICHAEL BLAINEY. IS THAT IT FOR WHO'S HERE TODAY? OH, AND SHERI. I'M SORRY, SHERI. HAD I BEEN AT THE MEETING YESTERDAY, I'M SURE I WOULD HAVE PICKED YOU UP. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE AND FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL REMAIN THE STRONG, STELLAR PROGRAM THAT IT IS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU ALL THAT IT HAS GROWN AND GOTTEN BETTER EACH YEAR. LAST YEAR, WE LOST A COUPLE JUST TREMENDOUS MENTORS WHO I BASED A LOT OF WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME, BASED THIS PROGRAM ON. AND JIM WELCH LEFT THE ADVISORY BOARD AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE MISSED HIM. AND THIS YEAR, DR. MICHAEL BLAINEY IS GOING TO MOVE ON TO OTHER CHALLENGES, AND DR. JOHN THOMAS IS, I BELIEVE, GOING TO FILL MICHAEL'S VERY BIG SHOES ON THE SAB. BUT I WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES -- AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL. SINCE 2004, WHEN WE INITIATED THIS PROGRAM, DR. BLAINEY HAS BEEN RIGHT AT MY SIDE, BY SERVING AT THE SAB, HAS BROUGHT HIS EXPERTISE AND LOVE OF LEARNING AND TEACHING TO ALL OF OUR FELLOWS, HAS OPENED HIS OFFICES BOTH AT DARTMOUTH AND AT NORTHWESTERN TO HELP OUR FELLOWS GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE, LEARN MORE, BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE IN AN EXECUTIVE ROLE. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH, MICHAEL, TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE FELLOWSHIP, TO ALL OF OUR FELLOWS AND TO ME PERSONALLY. AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WHATEVER REMARKS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AS YOU LEAVE THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAVING THE NBBTP. SO THANK YOU. MICHAEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. SOME OF YOU, I KNOW, SOME OF YOU, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW. BUT WE ALL SHARE THE FACT THAT WE'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH EXOWNGS WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL PLACES YOU CAN IMAGINE. I GET TIME NOW IN MY ROLE AT NORTHWESTERN TO SPEND AND INTERACT WITH ARGONNE NATIONAL LABS, WHICH IS ALSO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, WITH THEIR ENGINEERS AND PHYSICISTS AND SO ON, SO THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS INTERESTING TO ME. THEY'RE STILL WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND THAT SPECIAL FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH A GOVERNMENT LAB IS ALWAYS THERE. >> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] >> I TURNED 57 ON TUESDAY AND ALL I CAN THINK IS OH, MY GOSH, HOW FAST TIME SEEMS TO GO, AND THE MORE WE DO, THE FASTER OUR LIVES WILL GO, BUT ALSO I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT IS ENORMOUS, SO I'M VERY HAPPILY SETTLED AT NORTHWESTERN NOW AND LOVE THINGS THAT ARE PURPLE. PURPLE AND WHITE ARE OUR SCHOOL COLORS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND ALSO I THINK INCREDIBLY HUMBLING YESTERDAY WHEN THE BOARD MET AND WE SAW JUST A SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF WHERE ALL THE SUCCESSFUL FELLOWS WERE. NOW WE'VE GOT ONE DOWN AT LSU. AND THE REMARKABLE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND IN THANKS TO DEBBIE IN ANTICIPATION OF COMING OFF THE BOARD, REALIZING THAT THAT'S AN ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION, AND PART OF THAT CONTRIBUTION IS THE FACT THAT IT'S LIVEING AND THAT YOU, THE FELLOWS THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE RANKS SO TO SPEAK OR FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM, THAT THOSE SAME CONTRIBUTIONS WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE I WAS HERE AT A TIME AND TRAINED UNDER DEBBIE WHEN THERE WASN'T A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING UNIQUE AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH THAT STAYS WITH YOU ALL THE TIME. IT'S A VERY POWERFUL TO HAVE ON YOUR CURRICULUM VITAE THAT YOU WERE TRAINED AT THE NIH. THERE'S A WAY THAT THE NIH DOES THINGS THAT'S UNIQUE IF NOT INDESCRIBABLE, AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLY WELCOMING PLACE, COMPLEX AT TIMES BUT A VERY WELCOMING PLACE, AND TO THINK THAT PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE, WITH ALL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND CULTURES AND THINGS, THIS WAS SO APPARENT TO ME HAVING LUNCH IN A CAFETERIA ONE DAY THAT FOLKS THAT SPEAK CHINESE, THEY TEND TO GET TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT LAB GROUPS AND ONE BY ONE, ALL THE GERMANS AND EUROPEANS GET TOGETHER, THOSE THAT SPOKE RUSSIAN, AND ONE BY ONE, THEY'D GET UP AND GO BACK TO THEIR LAB GROUPS, BUT HERE WERE ALL THESE PEOPLE USING COMMON TECHNIQUES, FACING COMMON RISKS, SPEAKING ALL THESE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WERE UNITED BY THE FACT THAT THEY WANTED TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH AND THE CONDITION OF HUMAN KIND, AND WHAT AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT SCIENCE SAFE AND TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THAT. SO MUCH LIKE CASTING A ROCK INTO A STILL POND, THE RIPPLES GO ON, AND I KNOW AND WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT AT ANY POINT IN ANY ASSOCIATION TO CONTACT ME, KEEPING TABS ON THE MIDWEST AND THAT WE WILL ALWAYS WELCOME FELLOWS, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE ERIC COME SPEND A COUPLE WEEKS WITH US, AND OTHERS THAT WOULD WANT TO COME SPEND A WEEK WITH US, AND JUST CARRY THAT ON. DEBBIE GAVE US THAT. I'LL NEVER FORGET HER CALLING ME IN THE SPRING OF 2004 SAYING, I NEED YOU TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW? IT'S LIKE, OKAY, I'LL DO IT, YEAH, WHATEVER YOU NEED, I'LL DO IT. SO THAT'S JUST PART OF IT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATE, AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND TO ALL OF YOU. AND IT'S NOT REALLY GOODBYE IN THAT WAY, BUT I'LL BE PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER THINGS IN THE COMING YEAR, SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SAB MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS OR WE'LL JUST KEEP MOVING. OKAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW ME, I'M DEBBIE HUNT. I'VE BEEN ON THE SAB WITH DEBBIE AND MICHAEL AND JANET AND NOW SHERI. I STARTED OUT WITH MICHAEL AND BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO JUST SAY SOMETHING. IT'S A SPECIAL YEAR, A SPECIAL YEAR FOR ANITRA. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HER. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I HAPPEN TO RETIRE FROM BIOSAFETY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MADE IT CLEAR TO MY BOSSES THAT I WANTED AN NDBTP FELLOW TO TAKE MY PLACE. I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. AND I KNOW THE VALUE AND THE QUALITY THAT COMES WITH IT, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WHAT, 13 YEARS NOW? 14? SO WE'VE SEEN AN AWFUL LOT OF GOOD FOLKS COME THROUGH AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. SO IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR MY BOSSES TO AGREE. AND SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR THE PROFESSION OF BIOSAFETY AND THE PROFESSION OF BIOSAFETY AS A FAMILY. IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S SMALL ENOUGH SO THAT IF YOU'RE IN THE PROFESSION, YOU KIND OF KNOW EVERYBODY OR YOU KNOW OF PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO WONDERFUL. AND TO HAVE SUCH VISION AND QUALITY OF A PROGRAM THAT DEBBIE PUT TOGETHER WITH MURRAY COHEN AND OTHERS IN THE ORIGINAL SAB HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WOULD COME ABOUT? WELL, NO. IT WAS A DREAM. BUT DEBBIE AND I WENT TO THE SAME GRADUATE PROGRAM AT UNC CHAPEL HILL IN BIOHAZARD SCIENCE, THE ONLY PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. NOW THERE IS NO PROGRAM LIKE THAT, BUT DEBBIE AND I MET THERE, AND OUR MENTOR, DR. JERRY TULICE, DEB MENTIONED THAT HE PASSED AWAY THIS PAST YEAR AND WAS VERY POSH IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES, AND HE KIND OF INSTILLED IN US THE NEED TO GET BACK, THAT WE NEED TO GIVE BACK. SO AGAIN, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU. MAKE THE BEST OF IT, ENJOY IT, MAKE YOUR FRIENDS, MAKE YOUR FELLOWSHIP IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND REMEMBER THAT WE DO EXPECT YOU TO GIVE BACK AND TO HELP OTHERS AND REACH DOWN AND TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S HAND AS YOU GET INTO YOUR PROFESSION. SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY, JUST FROM THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD, WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> JANET PETER SON, ANOTHER SAB MEMBER. >> HI, EVERYONE. I'M JANET PETERSON, AND VI THE PLEASURE I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING ON THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD FOR NOW EIGHT YEARS, I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BEFORE I WAS ON THE BOARD -- SO I RETIRED THREE YEARS AGO FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, WHERE I WAS BIOSAFETY OFFICER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING ONE OF THE FIRST FELLOWS AS DUAL DEVELOPMENTAL ASSIGNMENT WITH ME. SO THAT WAS REALLY WHAT GOT ME INTERESTED IN IT, AND I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR. WILSON FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ON THIS BOARD. IT'S BEEN -- I'VE BEEN IN BIOSAFETY FOR A LONG TIME AND IT CERTAINLY BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER. AND I'M HAPPY THAT I CAN STILL BE ON IT, EVEN AFTER I'M RETIRED, AND I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE ANITRA FOR COMPLETING THE PROGRAM AND IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOU, AND I HOPE WE CAN STAY IN TOUCH. AND MAYBE I CAN HELP ANSWER SOME OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOUR WEDDING. ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, JANET. AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NBBTP ALUM KNEE WE HAVE HERE. WE HAVE DAVE HARBOR, ANGELA REAGAN, JAIRY MORALS, ALTHEA, TRACY IS AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE, SHE'S IN THE BACK, AND I'M ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER. THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR COMING TO THE CELEBRATION, AND KUDOS TO YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE CURRENTLY DOING IN THE INDUSTRY. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. AND SHERI BOND, SHERI IS AN ALUMNI AS WELL, AND OUR NEWEST SAB MEMBER. BUT SHE'S CURRENTLY AWAY AT THE MOMENT. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. A VERY UNIQUE ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE COMBINATION OF DIDACTIC AND EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING THAT THE FELLOWS GET DURING THEIR TWO YEARS HERE, AND SPEAKING MORE TO THE EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING, THIS PROGRAM IS VERY UNIQUE, AND THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE PERSONNEL ASSOCIATED WITH DOHS, WITH THE DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. DOHS HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THIS FELLOWSHIP SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED, AND WITHOUT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, WITHOUT THEIR GENEROSITY, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HAVE THE FELLOWS SHADOW THEM, TO MENTOR THEM, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE WITH OUR FELLOWS. THEY COULDN'T COME OUT OF THIS PROGRAM BEING AS QUALIFIED AS THEY ARE WITHOUT YOU TRAINING THEM AND GUIDING THEM. AND EDUCATING THEM. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM SO UNIQUE AND SECOND TO NONE, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ALL AND JUST GIVE SOME SMALL TOKENS OF APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU DO. AMONG THE BRANCHES IN DOHS, FIRST IF I HAVE SAFETY OPERATION AND SUPPORT BRANCH, SO IF SOMEONE CAN COME UP FROM SOSB, I'D APPRECIATE IT. NOW, WHOEVER I'M GIVING THESE TOKENS OF APPRECIATION TO, I'M HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO SHARE IT WITH THE OTHER BRANCH MEMBERS. [LAUGHTER ?CHT] NEXT UP, WE HAVE SAFETY ENGINEERING ACTIVITY. SOMEONE HERE FROM SEA? ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] HE ALREADY GAVE A WARNING AND SAID HE'S NOT SHARING. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP WITH THE OTHER SEA MEMBERS. BUT LET ME GO BACK. SOSB, THEY PROVIDE THE SAFETY SPECIALISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY MENTORS FOR THE FELLOWS, FOR ALL TWO YEARS THAT THEY'RE HERE. THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY DEDICATED IN PROVIDING MENTORS. I WANT TO THANK THE BRANCH CHIEF FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE PROGRAM AND HELPING US TO IMPROVE IN THE WAYS THAT WE CAN. SEA, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT TEACH OUR FELLOWS HOW TO READ BLUEPRINTS AND TEACH US ALL ABOUT LAB DESIGN AND HVAC SYSTEMS AND SO FORTH, AND AIR PRESSURE DIFFERENTIALS, YOU NAME IT, THE FELLOWS GET SUCH A GOOD EDUCATION FROM SEA AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. NEXT UP, I HAVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH. SOMEONE HERE FROM THERE? [APPLAUSE] TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, AIR QUALITY ISSUES, LASER SAFETY, THINGS OF THE LIKE, FELLOWS GET A GREAT GRATE EDUCATION FROM EDUCATION FRO M THEM AND WE THANK YOU. COMMUNITY HEALTH BRANCH. JACKIE, COME ON UP. ONE THING THAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THE NIH AND ABOUT DOHS IS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. IT'S ONE THING TO DO THIS JOB WELL BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE, AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH BRANCH DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AT COMMUNE COMEUN KATEING THAT COMMUNICATING THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE. WHETHER IT'S HERE, WHETHER IT'S OTHER PEOPLE HERE AT THE NIH OR WHETHER IT'S THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS. COME ON UP, JEFF. [APPLAUSE] SO WHETHER IT'S THE SELECT AGENT PROGRAM OR BIOSURETY, BIORISK MANAGEMENT, WE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO WITH THE FELLOWS AND JEFF POTTS ACTUALLY CAME UP TO RECEIVE THE GIFT THAT WE HAD. JEFF IS OUR NEW CODER, HE'S THE CONTRACT OFFICE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS HIS FIRST YEAR SERVING. HERB JACOBY HAD THAT POSITION BEFORE BUT NOW JEFF POTTS HAS TAKEN OVER AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WITH US SO FAR. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ALSO HAVE SOMETHING FOR -- IS PATRICIA HERE FROM THE FRONT DESK? I HAVE SOMETHING FOR PATRICIA AS WELL, SO I'LL BE SURE TO GET THAT FOR HER, BUT I WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE THAT SHE'S PROVIDEED FOR US AND WITH THE PROGRAM. NEXT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MENTORS THAT WE HAD ASSIGNED FOR THIS PAST YEAR. THE MENTORS WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FELLOWS, THEY ALLOW THE FELLOWS TO SHADOW THEM ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO WITH OUR FELLOWS. I WANT TO BRING UP ALL OF OUR MENTORS LISTED HERE, THEY'RE ALL VETERANS NOW, SO THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, FIRST I WANT TO BRING UP VERONIQUE. [APPLAUSE] TAMIKA KASTNER. [APPLAUSE] NOW THE MENTORS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHARE WHAT THEY'RE GETTING. [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] >> I'M NOT GETTING INTO THAT. GLEN RAMIREZ. I DON'T THINK GLEN IS HERE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GET THIS TO HIM. DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FELLOWSHIP -- WELL, LET ME BACK UP. DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE TO A NUMBER OF COURSES TO GET TRAINED. THEY LEARN A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT DURING THE SECOND YEAR, IT'S REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE IT'S DURING THAT TIME THAT WE SEND THEM ON DEVELOPMENTAL ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ACTUALLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FELLOWS TO APPLY WHAT THEY'VE BEEN LEARNING, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEND THEM AWAY FROM THE NIH SO THAT THEY CAN GET AN APPRECIATION OF HOW BIOSAFETY PROGRAMS ARE RUN AT DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND SO FORTH. AND FOR ANITRA, SHE HAD THREE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSIGNMENTS. SHE HAD ONE AT YALE UNIVERSITY WITH BEN FONTS SERVING AS THE COORDINATOR, SHE HAD ONE HE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS WITH CHELSEA SERVING AS THE COORDINATOR, WHO IS ALSO AN ALUM. AND SHE ALSO DID ONE WITH THE USDA, WITH JOE SERVING AS THE COORDINATOR, ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD. SO I WANT TO THANK THE D.A. COORDINATORS FOR PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANITRA TO WORK WITH THEIR TEAMS DURING HER SENIOR YEAR. DR. WILSON, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO -- OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON. THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE UNIQUE BECAUSE NOW WE'RE AT THE TIME WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT ANITRA WITH HER CERTIFICATE, BUT YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, WITH TRADITION, THERE IS A NICKNAME THAT IS ASSIGNED TO EACH GRADUATE. BUT THIS YEAR IS UNIQUE, BECAUSE SINCE WE HAVE ONE GRADUATE AND WE HAVE -- AND THE TRADITION IS, IS THAT WHOEVER IS JUNIOR TO THE GRADUATE, THEY ARE TO GIVE THE NAME. WELL, WE HAVE THREE JUNIOR FELLOWS WHILE ANITRA WAS THE SENIOR FELLOW, SO SINCE WE HAD THREE, ANITRA IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST GRADUATE TO RECEIVE THREE SEPARATE OFFICIAL NICKNAMES. [LAUGHTER] SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL BRING UP OUR -- NOW THEY'RE SENIOR FELLOWS. I HAVE TO GET USED TO CALLING THEM SENIOR FELLOWS. WE'LL BRING OF MARIA, ANTHONY AND ERIC TO GIVE THEIR NICKNAME PRESENTATION FOR DR. JONES. AND DR. JONES, YOU WILL HAVE TO STAND HERE AND RECEIVE YOUR NICKNAMES. >> WE DEFINITELY THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR THAT YOU SHOULD GET THREE NICKNAMES, ONE FROM EACH OF US, SO WE'RE GOING TO START OUT, LET'S TALK ABOUT DR. JONES, RIGHT? WHEN YOU HAVE THE LAST NAME OF JONES AND YOU ARE A DOCTOR, YOU ARE GOING TO BE CALLED DR. JONES. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DR. JONES OVER THE YEAR OR SO PLUS OF REALLY BEING AROUND HER, BEING MENTORED BY HER. WE REALLY BONDED ON THIS TRIP DOWN IN ASM THIS YEAR DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS AS YOU KNOW, SHE IS A NEW ORLEANS NATIVE, SO SHE VERY KIND KIENDLY SHOWED US AROUND TOWN AND PUT UP WITH MY SHE SHENANIGANS WITH HER. AND THEN AT THIS TIME, I REALLY STARTED A GREAT FRIENDSHIP WITH HER, AND I REALLY TRULY HOPE I HAVE THIS FRIENDSHIP FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU. VERY NICE OF YOU TO GIVE WHAT YOU GAVE OF YOURSELF TO ME FOR THIS YEAR. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I ALSO LEARNED THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE WOMAN OUT OF NEW ORLEANS BUT YOU CANNOT TAKE NEW ORLEANS OUT OF THE WOMAN. SHE JUST HAS TOO MUCH HOODAD IN HER. SHE IS NOW THE BSO AT LSU, AND I THOUGHT THAT THIS NICKNAME, WHICH I NOW BESTOW UPON YOU, IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR YOU ARE NOW THE BAYOU BSO. [APPLAUSE] WE DO HAVE MORE. >> SO I'LL BE PRESENTING THE NEXT NICKNAME. SO AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, DR. JONES IS VERY BRILLIANT. AS JUNIORS, WE WOULD ASK HER MILLIONS OF QUESTIONS DURING THE DAY. THE EXCELLENT MENTOR SHE WAS, SHE WOULD GIVE US A PERFECT ANSWER. EITHER SHE WOULD GIVE US THE ANSWER WE NEEDED OR SOMETIMES SHE WOULD DIRECT US TO THE MATERIAL AND USE IT AS A LEARNING MOMENT, SO SHE'S BRILLIANT AT SCIENCE, AT BIOSAFETY, YOU KNOW, AT ANY TYPE OF CODE, SHE KNOWS THE RULES AND REGULATIONS LIKE THE BACK OF HER HAND. SOME PEOPLE WILL CALL HER A BIOSAFETY PROPHET OF SORTS. [LAUGHTER] BUT HER NEXT NICKNAME IS THE ORACLE, SO WE'RE GOING TO CALL HER THE ORACLE. THIS IS HER SITTING IN THE OFFICE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SHE HAD LIKE AN OPEN CUBICLE POLICY WHICH ALWAYS -- YEAH, ALWAYS ASK HER A QUESTION, IN THIS OTHER PICTURE, MARIA AND I WERE TRYING TO LEARN THE ROPES FROM RUTH BUT DR. JONES WAS -- SHE ALREADY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO SHE WAS FOCUSED ON SOMETHING ELSE, AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD EVEN, SO WE WOULD GO DO ACTIVITIES TOGETHER LIKE THAT PICTURE IN THE UPPER LEFT. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING AN AWESOME MENTOR AND AN AWESOME FRIEND, AND TEACHING US THE ROPES AS WELL AS OPENING UP TO US AND JOKING WITH US AS WELL. SO IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE TO GIVE THE LADY TORCH TO THIS PAREN TAI RIGHT? MINE HAS A LITTLE MORE GIRLIE OF A TITLE TO IT. SO BEING THE CASE THAT SHE'S THE ONLY ONE IN HER CLASS, YOU WILL THINK THAT THERE'S NOT THAT MANY PICTURES OF ANITRA, BUT SHE ACTUALLY IS QUITE AN EXPERT AT TAKING SELFIES. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK, ORK MAYBE SHE'S DOING THAT BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONLY ONE IN HER CLASS, BUT NO, SHE TAKES SELFIES EVERYWHERE, AT ANY TIME. YOU WILL SEE HER DOING SOMETHING LIKE, WHAT IS SHE LOOKING AT? OH, SHE'S TAKING A SELFIE, SO WITH THAT SAID, I CALL HER THE SELFIE DIVA. NOT ONLY IS SHE GOOD AT TAKING SELFIES, SHE ALSO HAS A GOOD CAMERA ON HER CELL PHONE AND SHE'S FULLY PHOTOGENIC AND PRETTY ON THE PICTURES, SO NO MATTER IF SHE'S GOT STRAIGHT HAIR, THERE'S ONE PICTURE WITH THE STRAIGHT HAIR OR HER CURLY HAIR, MAKEUP, SUITS, WHATEVER, SHE'S VERY PHOTOGENIC. IF YOU SEE A FEW PICTURES OF OTHER PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF, IT'S -- EITHER SHE INVITED YOU TO BE IN THE SELFIE OR YOU JUST PHOTOBOMB ONE LIKE ONE OF THOSE THAT I PHOTOBOMBED ON. BUT SHE'S REALLY GOOD AT IT, SO SHE'S A SELFIE DIVA. [APPLAUSE] I'LL ADD SOMETHING MORE TO THAT, SO YOU GOT YOUR THREE TITLES, OF COURSE, NOW, BUT LAST YEAR WE LEARN ABOUT -- WHICH IS TO BE GREAT, PERIOD, BE GREAT, PERIOD, LIKE THAT, AND I'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT SHE REALLY -- SHE'S A GREAT PERSON, SHE'S A WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN WOMAN WITH GREAT VALUES AND SHE DOES WORK ON THOSE, I HAVE TO SAY, SO CONGRATS, I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT. [APPLAUSE] >> YOU STAY RIGHT HERE. DR. WILSON, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME, PLEASE? WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE ABOVE AND BEYOND MEASURE. IF I HAD TO GIVE YOU A NICKNAME, HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE THIS TIME BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY NICKNAME ANYWAY IF I COULD GIVE YOU A NICKNAME, I THINK IT WOULD BE BUTTERFLY. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GOT HERE, YOU WERE IN A BIT OF A COCOON. YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- I THINK YOU HAD A GUARD UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU TRULY, TRULY OVER THESE TWO YEARS TRANSFORMED INTO A, YOU SPREAD YOUR WINGS, I KNOW IT SOUNDS CHEESY BUT FORGIVE ME FOR THAT. YOU HAVE SPREAD YOWRL WINGS, YOU HAVE EXPANDED YOUR NETWORK, YOU'VE EXPANDED YOUR SKILL SET, YOU'VE MADE GREAT FRIENDS WHILE YOU'VE BEEN HERE,, I KNOW SOME THINGS TO GO THROUGH THIS BY YOURSELF, I KNOW IT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING THING FOR YOU TO DO, AND I KNOW YOU WERE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, BUT THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED, SO CONGRATULATIONS, BIOSAFETY BUTTERFLY. [APPLAUSE] >> LET'S MOVE AWAY FROM THIS. >> I HAVE A NAME. I BASE MINE ON OUR LADY TALKS THAT WE HAVE EVOLVED TO. ANITRA WOULD COME TO MY OFFICE IN THE LATER EVENING, KNOWING THAT I WORK LATE, AND SOMETIMES SHE WAS FROWNING AND SOMETIMES SHE WAS IN TEARS BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE SAT AND TALKED ABOUT THINGS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH BIOSAFETY WHATSOEVER. I IDENTIFY WITH ANITRA A LOT. AND I ENJOYED THOSE TIMES TOGETHER, ANITRA, SO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND SO I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY JUST TO CALL YOU "FRIEND." SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> DID YOU HAVE ANY REMARKS, DR. JONES? I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU SAT DOWN. >> I'M REALLY OVERWHELMED. I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE KIND WORDS THAT WERE STATED TODAY. THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT IT REALLY TAKES A VILLAGE, SO THAT'S AN OLD PROVERB, AND MY VILLAGE IS REALLY STRONG AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD FOR GRANTING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN HAVE THIS FELLOWSHIP, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH NOT ONLY ABOUT BIOSAFETY, BUT ABOUT MYSELF OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD. I THANK ALL OF MY ADVISERS IN DOHS, I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING VALUABLE FROM EVERYONE THERE, AND THOSE THAT WERE NOT MY ADVISERS IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY. PEOPLE WHO I JUST PASSED AND ASKED QUESTIONS TO, AND THEY TOOK TIME TO LISTEN TO THE PROBLEM AND OFFER ADVICE. I APPRECIATE THAT. FRIENDSHIPS, COLLEAGUES THAT I'VE MET HERE, NIH IS REALLY A UNICORN. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE, SO TO HAVE BEEN TRAINED HERE IS AN HONOR, A PRIVILEGE, AND I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ALWAYS STATED AND I REALLY TAKE TO HEART IS THAT WHEN ONE HAS BEEN BLESSED, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BLESS OTHERS, SO I DEFINITELY PLAN TO DO THAT, AND I'M ENDEAVORING TO DO THAT CURRENTLY. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE KIND WORDS. I'M SURE ALL OF THE BAD THINGS THAT FELLOWS SAY ABOUT ME ARE GOING TO BE SAID AFTERWARDS. [LAUGHTER] I'LL RECORD THEM OR TAKE A SELFIE SO THAT I CAN DOCUMENT THEM FOR YOU ALL. NO, BUT I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DR. JONES. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, ONCE AGAIN, THE NEW SENIOR CLASS, ANTHONY, MARIA, AND ERIC. CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT TO THE SECOND YEAR! [APPLAUSE] THEY'RE A GREAT GROUP. I'M VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR IN THE PROGRAM. THEY HAD A GREAT SENIOR FELLOW TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE WAYS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO AS SENIOR FELLOWS FOR THE JUNIOR CLASS BECAUSE YOU HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE AND NOW YOU CAN FILL THOSE SHOES. SO CONGRATS TO YOU, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW INCOMING CLASS. WE HAVE JENNIFER DEPOE. JENNIFER IS FROM SACRAMENTO, SHE WORKED WITH THE SACRAMENTO MOS AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT. SHE ALSO HAS A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JONG SHING. JON GWAS A RESEARCH FELLOW WITH THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE FOR EIGHT YEARS? YES, FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND HE HAS A PH.D. IN GENETICS FROM CHINA. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN YOUR FIRST YEAR. WE'RE EXCITED TO YOU HAVE, AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] AND THAT WRAPS EVERYTHING UP. DR. WILSON, DID YOU HAVE ANY FINAL WORDS? OKAY. >> THIS CELEBRATION IS VERY BITTERSWEET FOR ME, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, I WILL BE RETIRING IN FOUR MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS. BUT WHO'S COUNTING? BUT BEFORE THE CURRENT IF HE FELLOWS FINISH THEIR PROGRAMS. BUT BE ASSURED YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME ANY TIME. I WILL GIVE YOU MY CELL PHONE NUMBER WHEN I GET ONE. I HAVEN'T HAD A PERSONAL CELL PHONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN NIH'S. BUT I LOVE YOU ALL, AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY BITTERSWEET BITTERSWEET -- WHILE I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT PHASE OF MY LIFE, I'M GOING TO MISS ALL OF YOU. AND THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IF NOT THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER, AND THAT MEANS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE A LITTLE PIECE OF LIGHT IN MY HEART. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING LEFT IN VERY GOOD HANDS WITH JEFF POTTS AND JOHN BEATSCH AND DERRICK, WHO TAGS ALONG. [LAUGHTER] DERRICK IS OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DOHS, JOHN BEING THE CHIEF OF SAFETY OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT AND JEFF BEING THE CHIEF OF THE FAIRLY NEWLY MINUTED BIORISK BRANCH. THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN THESE THREE MEN WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS FELLOWSHIP REMAINS SUCCESSFUL AND REMAINS STRONG SO I THANK YOU FOR CARRYING ON. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT. SO GIVE IT ITS DUE, BE PROUD OF IT, BE PROUD OF ALL IT ACCOMPLISHES BECAUSE THROUGH YOU, YOU WILL IMPACT THE WORLD OF SAFETY MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. SO I CHARGE YOU WITH THAT, AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PARTS OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I WANT TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I THANK THE PERSONNEL WITHIC, THE PEO PLE KRLTED TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK RUTH DISLER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] RUTH WORKS SO HARD IN THIS PROGRAM TO KEEP THINGS GOING, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FELLOWS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO AND SO FORTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, RUTH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, CDIC PERSONNEL OUT IN TEXAS AND ATLANTA FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE PROGRAM. AND THAT WRAPS EVERYTHING UP. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. OH, OF COURSE, WE HAVE CAKE! YES! YES, WE WILL PARTAKE IN CAKE ONCE WE WRAP THINGS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH.