Senior Physiologists' News
Letter to Felix Bronner

Glen Hatton writes: “Thank you for the invitation to join my fellow ‘old guys’ and write a piece for ‘Senior Physiologists’ News.’ I have enjoyed reading many of the contributions that have appeared in that section of The Physiologist in recent years.

“To be (retired) or not to be (retired) is an interesting question, perhaps, for some. As for me, I have it both ways. When the University of California, Riverside recruited me to start a new Department of Neuroscience in 1992, I had already completed my 27th year on the faculty of Michigan State University (my first job) and was, therefore, eligible to retire from that institution. Taking emeritus status, I reasoned, was a way to raise the likelihood that I would keep in touch with my long time friends and colleagues and with an institution of which I was also quite fond, although not fond enough to pass up such a unique career opportunity. And I have kept in touch with the Michigan State University in several ways that might not have been as open to me if I had simply resigned my position there. I have been invited back to present seminars and to attend a wide variety of functions, including departmental anniversary celebrations, festschrifts, retirement parties, and annual luncheons for distinguished faculty. One can, of course, only accept a fraction of such invitations, especially from a distance of 2000 miles.

“Changing jobs at a rather late stage in one’s career may not be recommended for everyone, as it can have myriad effects on one’s outlook, I suppose. For me it was energizing and a bit like starting over, with the fresh viewpoint that is implied by that phase. All at once I was hiring new junior faculty, which is one of the more important and exciting things we do for our institutions in academia. Then there was a variety of pressing needs that demanded attention: design a new graduate program, develop new courses, get involved in the politics of a campus and a complex university system that were completely new to me, etc. 

“After nearly twelve years of developing and expanding the department from no one but me to eighteen members, in the autumn of 2002 I stepped down from the chairmanship and returned to my professorial position. This, too, was exhilarating because for once in twelve years I could focus on just those things that I wanted to do. One item in that category was to increase my intimate involvement in my laboratory. Having to write a renewal application for my NIH research grant at that time insured that this process would take place. At some point in a long research career, one has to face the prospect that competition for federal funding may no longer be available for one’s proposed projects, and to deal with the implications of that outcome for one’s future.

“Happily, my renewal application was funded for the time I requested and my research grant began year 34 in January 2004 (not quite as venerable as that reported by Dave Prince in this section of the December 2003 issue of The Physiologist). It would be hard to overestimate the importance of this continuous NIH funding on my research program. Bringing this grant to its current point has involved the hard work and concerted efforts of a number people over the years. For most of them and certainly for me, the research outcomes under this support have been a major source of personal and professional satisfaction and worth all of the effort.

“So, with NIH funding through the end of 2007, I’m fully engaged in research on things hypothalamic, both the neurophysiology of neuroendocrine cells and interactions between neurons and non-neuronal cell types in the mammalian central nervous system. A young colleague (whom I hired when I was chair) and I have just finished editing a book, in a hot, newly burgeoning area, entitled Glial Neuronal Signaling, which was published in May of 2004. It is gratifying, also, that despite nearing the conclusion of my seventh decade (which will come in December, 2004), invitations to present seminars and to attend international meetings as an invited speaker continue to be a part of my academic life. It is always a special pleasure to see one’s former trainees at these meetings and to see how well they are getting on in their careers. 
“To round out the report on my activities, I continue to teach at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. In fact, I just last fall organized a new graduate laboratory course in neuroscience. As I look back over my life in academe, it seems that interactions with students, whose ages remain roughly constant while the gap widens between theirs and mine, have been a significant factor in my being able to maintain a fresh and usually optimistic view of the world. To my way of thinking, there are two prongs to the secret of retarding the (mental) aging process: think young and don’t mellow.”

Letter to Alan Hofmann

Johannes Piiper writes: “I thank you for your kind letter and I am sorry to be late in answering. Your letter stimulated me to write a personal-subjective ‘curriculum vitae’ that could be of interest to my friends-colleagues. 
“To answer your specific questions: I have been planning to write some review-type papers but have given it up (as I believe others will do a better job). I have not continued experimental work. My most important contribution could have been to promote international cooperation by inviting scientists to work in my laboratory and to participate in symposia in Gottingen.

“I owe much to my US colleagues and friends, particularly to my teacher Hermann Rahn for stimulation, encouragement and support. In La Jolla, I have been visiting many times, with John West, Peter Wagner, Frank Powell, Fred White, and other, and meeting Pete Scholander, A.B. Hastings, and Ben Zweifach. La Jolla is a wonderful place, my favorite spot is the Torrey Pines nature reserve.” 

[Index] [Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year] [APS News] [APS News2] [Chapter News] [Membership] [Education] [Publications] [Public Affairs] [IUPS Congress] [ APS Awards] [Positions Available] [People & Places] [Books Received] [Announcements] [Scientific Meetings and Congresses] [APS Membership Application]