Advocacy: yes we can.

It is an honor and privilege to address you as president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. For more than 100 years, this organization has represented the best of physician-scientists. Since it is now 2012, there is the possibility that this could be the last ASCI presidential address. But we will assume the Mayans miscalculated and that we should look to the future. With the ASCI moving into its second century, this year we decided it was time to solicit the opinion of its membership and essentially ask ASCI members, “How are we doing? What do we want from ASCI?” We surveyed ASCI members about key areas: membership, council service, fiscal policy, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, this meeting, and what membership expected from this organization.