Which professional schools did you graduate from and when?
I received my pharmacy degree from Long Island University's Brooklyn College of Pharmacy back when pharmacists actually compounded some prescriptions. My masters degree in business administration from George Washington University and my PhD from the University of Minnesota. I had the honor of having the Mayo Clinic’s legend, Len Kurland advise me through my thesis. I also had executive training at the US Federal Executive Institute and at Harvard Business School. I retired from the U.S. FDA and am now in the consulting practice.

Which patient has had most effect on your work, and why?
Me! After the three neck surgeries I realized that I needed to adjust my priorities!

What is your best published work?
The book chapter in the Hartzema et. al.'s Pharmacoepidemiology text on Risk Management and Regulatory Decision-making

What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Focus and become a guru on a specific area. Generalists are a dime a dozen!

What is the best advice that you can give to a new person in the field?
Don't be awed by the experts and always keep the ethics of patient safety as first priority.

What is your greatest regret?
Personally: that I won’t live to be 200.
Professionally: that I worked too much.

What apart from your partner is the passion of your life?
My children, fishing and understanding the meaning of the human spirit.

What is your greatest fear?
That time is moving so fast.

What are you currently reading?
The Prophet by Kahil Gibran.
The Good Part of the Brain by Matthew Alper.
Hard America, Soft America by Michael Barone.

Which is your favourite country?
USA, though I have yet the visit Ireland the birthplace of my mother.

What do you think is the most exciting field of science at the moment?
All scientific inquiry is exciting!

What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
My 23 years in the US Public Health Service allowed me to have impact on millions. That is incredibly satisfying!

What is your favorite journey, and why?
From my office, along my dock to my modest fishing runabout — a total of 125 feet!

What is your favorite saying?
What's da matta your face?

What is the least enjoyable job you've ever had?
Cleaning out greasy exhaust vents in commercial plants — during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college.

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