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SHERMAN PRIZE 2017

David T. Rubin, MD

Good evening.

A patient who lives with Crohn's disease and

ulcerative colitis faces many uncertainties and can
feel as though their lifes journey has taken a wrong
turn. They ask: How did this happen? Why me?
What next? and Who can help?

Some face a life of darkness, isolated by the ravages

of an inflammatory condition which seems
unpredictable and at times cruel in the way it affects
their sense of self, their life goals and by extension,
those individuals who love and care so much about
them.

Thankfully, though, we have made incredible

progress in our fight to understand these conditions,
and can thank some amazing people who are, as
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Teddy Roosevelt described in the arena, whose

face is marred by dust and sweat and blood
fighting the good fight, and we are winning.

Thomas Kuhn, renowned Harvard physicist turned

philosopher, described in his book The Structure of
Scientific Revolutions how true scientific advances
occur. Its rare that they are ever the ah hah
moments of discovery, epiphany and then the world
is changed. Much more often is the slow progress of
incremental understanding, what he calls normal
science akin to puzzle solving, followed by the
accumulation of so much evidence that there
develops a paradigm which does or does not make
sense and results in what we now called (and he
coined) a paradigm shift. In IBD, thankfully, we
have solved many puzzles and the field has had a
couple paradigm shifts. While we continue to strive
valiantly for a greater understanding, more targeted
therapies and of course cures, we should pause
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tonight to celebrate the many victories: the

advances in knowledge and practice that have
resulted in better quality of lives for so many people
with IBD.

And so, we are here to do this: to celebrate the

remarkable accomplishments of 3 champions in the
fight against inflammatory bowel disease. I'm
honored to represent the selection committee as
well as so many of our colleagues who have been
direct beneficiaries as collaborators, students and
mentees of tonights awardees.

However, I first want to acknowledge Bruce and

Cynthia Sherman and the Sherman family for their
devotion to creating this unique prize. The Sherman
Prize, now in its second year, provides an opportunity
for us to recognize and to say publicly how grateful
we are to the special people who go above and
beyond to make exceptional, pioneering
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contributions and inspire tomorrows innovators in

the fight to overcome IBD. It takes vision, purpose
and exceptional generosity to create something like
this, and we all owe the Shermans our gratitude for
elevating our field to the next level. I say often that
we do not spend enough time praising and
celebrating the good work of those around us. The
Sherman Prize certainly accomplishes that, but we
should also acknowledge the creators of the prize as
deserving of it themselves!

It is terrific that the Sherman Prize is growing in

recognition and in number of nominees. The
selection committee was in a unique position to
review the letters of recommendation and support
that many other scientists and care providers
received. To see how the Prize has grown since its
inaugural year is one thing, but to appreciate how
many individuals in the United States are performing
amazing work to advance the field and are devoted
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to providing the highest quality of care is

inspirational to us all.

I want to thank the rest of the dedicated selection

committee: Elisabeth Evans, Susie Kane, Dermot
McGovern, Mark Pochapin and Corey Siegel.

Im privileged to know well two of the three

recipients tonight, Steph Targan and Ted Denson, and
have been so impressed learning more about Heidi
Drescher. These three deserving people are
individually outstanding, but together reflect a field
of immensely dedicated scientists, physicians,
nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, social
workers, dieticians and so many others who are
contributing to the next paradigm shift in IBD
science, quality care and access, as well as training
and mentoring those who will come after them.
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And with people like the Shermans, and Targan,

Denson and Drescher, we know that the future is in
great hands.

On behalf of the selection committee and really, on

behalf of our professional colleagues in IBD and on
behalf of patients everywhere, we wish tonights
award recipients all great success and congratulate
them on these wonderful achievements.