This was the first year that the BMEP Academic Year in the United States has not begun with a gathering of the students as they arrived in August or September. The most important reason was that the students were arriving at many different times during the summer and fall because of delayed visa approval, so there was no actual "start date" for the AY 2003-2004.

Three other students participated in BMEP this year. One went from Germany to London, and two went from St. Petersburg, Russia to Germany. They are, of course, included in this yearbook. There are two additional students whose writings appear in this yearbook. Ali Poyan Mehr and Christine Krüger were supposed to be in last year's group, but visa problems caused such long delays in their arrivals that they had not been in the U.S. long enough when last year's book was published to have any significant input.

Forum II was finally held at Farmington, Connecticut during February 13-15, 2004, using the facilities of the School of Medicine of the University of Connecticut. Dr. Holger Hansen, an old friend of BMEP, was very helpful in making the arrangements for the meeting space at the medical school, the dinner at Cugino's Restaurant on Saturday night, and, with great assistance from Mrs. Hansen, the Wine and Cheese reception that was held at the Farmington Inn before the dinner on Saturday. We could not have done it without him and the support by Dean Peter J. Deckers.

I did not attend the FORUM II in Connecticut, and, therefore, have not met most of this year's students, except via e-mail. I did meet the two students who were in Maine this year, Jessica Wortmann and Dagny Holle. As I read the yearbook submissions of the other students, I realized that I have missed getting to know a very interesting group of people. Perhaps one day, if there is a reunion of students from the now twenty-four years of BMEP's existence in the United Sates, I will have the chance to meet a few more members of the AY 2003-2004 group.

I wish all of the students success in their medical careers, and I hope that this year in the U.S. will remain in their memories as a pleasant and professionally useful time.

Sincerely,

Laurie B. Williams
U.S. Program Coordinator

The academic year 2004 marks the 25th anniversary of BMEP (Biomedical Sciences Exchange Program). The enthusiasm and achievements of the program's participants since 1979 have allowed us to continue pursuit of our aim to promote leadership in the biomedical and health sciences.

We have had the pleasure of overseeing a total of 1400 European and American participants since 1979, including all levels within the Life Sciences community. Of these 1400, 680 were advanced students in M.D./Ph.D. programs spanning one academic year.

The explosive development of the life sciences due to advances in molecular medicine and its commercial applications has also sparked interest in exchange in the areas of technology and science transfer. This is confirmed by BMEP initiatives to establish technology transfer incubators and public-private-partnership associations in Germany, within the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

With the founding of the International Academy of Life Sciences (IALS) in 1999, we wish to underline our belief that the life sciences will be a leading discipline as we enter the 21st century. Future-oriented skills should be promoted in this discipline through international science and technology exchange. This includes our outreach to Europe (Baltic Region) and Southern China.

Dr. Hilmar Stolte
Univ.-Professor of Medicine em.
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
President IALS Inc. & BMEP Inc.