Members and guests. It is for me a very great honor and privilege to deliver this year's Presidential Address to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. As I pondered over what approach I would take, my mind drifted back to previous such addresses that I had heard. In fact, this is the 20th consecutive such oration at which I have been present. What, I have repeat-edly asked myself, could I possibly add to the sagecomments of my predecessors? As I thought about this I came to realize the highly personal nature of these commentaries in terms of both style and content. Each has been informedby the unique perspective ofthe President and shaped, ofcourse, by the na-ture of his academic activities at the time. For example, several who have chaired departments have discussed the future ofthe physician scientist, while another focused on the key role of the department chair in promoting clinical investigation. Others who had been particularly active in the public sector have concentrated on the interfaces between the biomedical research community and governmental agencies and funding sources. Two recent presidents who had also served as Editors of the JournalofClinical Investigation discussed peer review and fraud in science, respectively. But I have not chaired a department, led a division, organized a formal training program, or edited the Journal ofClinical Investigation. Rather, for the past twenty years I have largely devoted my profes-sional activities to the scientific life and the associated activity oftryingto nurture various young scientists who have come to work with me.

Given that this is my perspective, what should be my sub-ject? I found my inspiration while reviewingthe stated objectives of our Society, as set forth in its constitution written eighty years ago in 1908. Five objectives were listed:(a) the advancement of medical science;(b) the cultivation of clinical research by the methods of the natural sciences;(c) the corre-lation of science with the art of medical practice;(d) the encouragement of scientific investigation by the medical practi-tioner; and (e) the diffusion ofa scientific spirit among its [the Society's] members.