At every stage of my career I have had interesting and cordial colleagues, some of whom are close friends.

And of course, identifying all human genes and proteins will have great medical significance.

So I applied to medical school and received a scholarship at Washington University in St. Louis. Washington University turned out to be a lucky choice. The faculty was scholarly and dedicated and accessible to students.

First of all, many human diseases are influenced by, if not caused by mutations in genes.

As I look back on the last few decades of my life, I am struck by the good fortune that came my way.

The glimpses of human strength and frailty that a physician sees are with me still.

At every stage of my career I have had interesting and cordial colleagues, some of whom are close friends.