Jeff Trewhitt
September 6th, 2007
Working for America’s pharmaceutical research companies, to me, is far more than just a good job. I am determined to do what I can to help sustain the environment that allows our researchers and scientists to continue creating the medicines that are so important to patients all over the world.
The fact is, I’m both a communications officer at PhRMA and a cancer patient in remission, thanks largely to a crucial chemotherapy developed by one of our member companies. More than seven years ago, I was around the corner from death, suffering from advanced hairy cell leukemia. My oncologist got me started immediately on leustatin to fight the cancer cells and gave me other medications to regenerate my blood. An ample supply of antibiotics was available to defeat an infection that developed and within five weeks, I was off medical leave and back on the job.
I vowed the day I returned that I would dramatically increase my efforts to help educate reporters, patients and consumers about the life-sustaining, life-enhancing work of our pharmaceutical research companies. And I made a promise to myself to meet at least one of the developers of the chemotherapy that saved my life and returned me to my family.
I have accomplished both goals: Dr. Esther Rose, a co-developer of leustatin, is everything I expected her to be - a bright, dedicated veteran researcher whose compassion and kindness could light up a room. It is an honor to still be affiliated with her and the tens of thousands of other scientists like her who go to work every day determined to create new medicines that help patients fight disease.
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