The Academic Year Class of 2005 – 2006 have been twelve students. Once again Dr. Stolte has performed his selection magic, by choosing as this year’s group another set of superb students. Their interests are varied, and several of them are not of typical German ethnicity, but they all share the characteristics of great intellect and curiosity, an excellent work ethic, and a spirit of adventure.

Choosing to come to the U.S. at this time of political turmoil, when fewer than one third of the U.S. citizens approve of the steps taken by the President and his advisors to wage a war on several fronts in the Middle East, was a courageous decision to make. Fortunately, the BMEP students quickly found out that the views of most of the U.S. population matched their own, so they were able to comfortably interact with the people with whom they worked and socialized.

The FORUM II in Farmington, Connecticut on March 17–19, 2006, was a success. We had more speakers than we had planned time for, so the visit to the Mark Twain Museum was eliminated. However, there was a lively interaction between this year’s students and the speakers, three of whom are BMEP alumni.

Thanks go once again to Ralph Arcari, Ph.D., Dean Peter Deckers, M.D., and Steven Strongwater, M.D., of the University of Connecticut Health Center School of Medicine, for their help in organizing the FORUM II and for speaking to the students and invited guests. Next year we have already reserved a larger room, thanks to Dr. Arcari, since participation in the program by BMEP alumni has increased, making the group too large to be comfortably housed in the Medical History Room of the Lyman Maynard Stowe Library at UCHC.

My thanks go to those who have helped to make my sixth year with BMEP U.S. such a pleasure.

Sincerely,

Laurie B. Williams
U.S. Program Coordinator