Gerry Tye

Ok. I’ve spent a whole day celebrating Karl Deisseroth’s very deserved Nobel (with every other brain enthusiast!). Now let’s talk about the brilliance of Dr. Michelle Monje, his wife. A Stanford physician, neuroscientist and recipient of a MacArthur Genius grant, Michelle has helped pioneer cancer neuroscience, revealing how brain activity can fuel tumor growth and opening new possibilities for treatment. And I say all this because I’ve been lucky to see her work firsthand and have been awe struck since the moment I met her. What makes Michelle extraordinary is the combination of scientific brilliance and her absolute unwavering commitment to children with devastating brain cancers. She is pushing the science forward because those children and their families cannot afford to wait. Everybody deserves to know @michelle_monje.

This year, I have lost two extraordinary women in my life to cancer. Both worked in the cancer field themselves - trying every day to help others - even as they battled the disease themselves. These are the people I draw inspiration from and, when the world feels harsh (as it’s seems more so everyday), comfort from - those who put far more good into the world than they ever take from it. My reflection tonight is this: choose the people you surround yourself with carefully. The goodness they radiate becomes part of you. And because of this - what they give to the world remains long after they are gone.

We lost an icon today. Dolly Parton created extraordinary music and helped put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children. Many people also don’t know that she donated $1 million to research that helped develop Moderna’s COVID vaccine. She used her success to make other people’s lives better. What a beautiful legacy.