Antony Rosen
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Antony Rosen grew up in South Africa, the middle child of three. His great-grandparents had migrated there from Russia, but after a couple of generations most of the family had moved on, many settling in the United States. Rosen's father had studied history but sold insurance; his mother was a chemist until she had children. Parental expectations were high (all three children have advanced degrees). Rosen could not avoid experiencing South African apartheid, one result of which was that he attended a Jewish school. He loved the music and liturgy of the Jewish services and went to synagogue every morning; he sang in the boys' choir and led high-holy-day services. For Rosen, science and religion are fundamentally intertwined. Rosen did well in all his high school classwork, but he loved math most. He was not especially inspired until he got to medical school, which, in South Africa, begins right after high school. His teachers influenced his career choice and his coursework in medical school. After finishing medical school he did a rotating internship and then studied for a year in Capetown, South Africa, with Wieland Gevers. Rather than entering military service, he chose to pursue a PhD His PhD application was rejected by the authorities in South Africa, so he accepted a postdoc in the Alan A. Aderem lab at Rockefeller University, though neglected to make living arrangements before he arrived. Rosen adjusted to work in the Aderem lab and to life in New York City, soon meeting Livia A. Casciola, his future wife, who was in Baltimore on a postdoc. He was interested in returning to clinical medicine so he secured an Osler residency and rheumatology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and he and Livia were able to marry. She then converted to Judaism and they had another ceremony. Rosen decided to specialize in rheumatology; he accepted a faculty position, and he established his own lab at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center (JHUMC). Throughout the interview Rosen discussed his definition of science; how his brother, Hugh Rosen, influenced his medical school career; the limits of technological expertise in medical science; gender inequality at JHUMC and in science generally; and ethnic and racial issues. He also described his collaboration with his wife in establishing his lab; the meaning of tenure at JHUMC; his funding history and funding in general; the impact of private philanthropy on his lab and research; his teaching, clinical, and administrative responsibilities; the process of writing journal articles; and his lab management style. Rosen's current research centers on apoptosis, and he tells how he became interested in it. He explains what he thinks may be practical applications of his work, and explicates his views on patents; competition and collaboration in science; and the origin of his ideas. He explains how he tries to balance family and career in his typical workday and talks about his interest in food and cooking. He concludes by assessing his professional and personal achievements and goals and discussing his future research plans.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | University of Cape Town | MB, ChB | Medicine |
1986 | University of Cape Town | BSc | Medical Biochemistry |
Professional Experience
Groote Schuur Hospital
University of Cape Town
The Rockefeller University
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
1988 to 1990 | Cancer Research Institute/Susan B. and Richard L. Ernst Foundation Fellowship |
1993 to 1995 | American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant |
1995 to 1999 | Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences |
1999 to 2004 | Burroughs-Wellcome Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research |
Table of Contents
Family background. Parental expectations. South African apartheid. Early schooling. Religion. Childhood interests. Classwork in junior and high school. Medical school. Influential teachers. Coursework in medical school. Decision to leave South Africa to pursue a Ph.D. Joining the Alan A. Aderem lab at Rochester University. Wieland Gevers. Arriving in the U. S.
Early work in the Aderem lab. Life in New York City. Meets Livia A. Casciola-Rosen, his future wife. Interest in returning to clinical medicine. Secures a residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Decides to specialize in rheumatology. Establishes his own lab at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center (JHUMC).
Hugh Rosen (brother) influences medical school career. Limits of technological expertise in medical science. Gender at JHUMC. Collaboration with his wife in establishing his lab. Tenure at JHUMC. Funding. Private philanthropy. Teaching responsibilities. Writing journal articles. Lab management style. Clinical and administrative responsibilities. Balancing family and career. Typical workday. Interest in food and cooking.
Use of TV and the Internet. Genesis of his research on apoptosis. Possible applications of his research. Patents. Competition and collaboration in science. Proper overseers of scientific research agendas. Professional and personal achievements. Future research plans.