Edward Wallach
Edward E. Wallach, MD
SRI President, 1986-1987
Although I can recall many aspects of my SGI presidential year (1986-87), the details escape me. I hope that the minutes of our Board meetings are available to fill in the blank spots for many of us. My term as president was the year immediately after I served as president of the AFS (1985-86). The two terms overlapped by a few months. Being president of the SGI was an exciting challenge for a variety of reasons, especially since this overlap provided a perfect opportunity for each of the two societies to reach out to one another. In fact, the two boards were able to arrange for reciprocal sessions on the programs at both the SGI and the AFS annual meetings that year, designated as having been sponsored by one another. Thus began a collegial alliance between the two societies.
Among the hot topics at that time were basic, clinical, and ethical issues associated with the rapidly emerging field of assisted reproductive technologies. At the annual meeting attention was directed toward very early prenatal studies, cellular biology of embryo development, embryonic micromanipulation and new roles for ultrasound in egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and early embryonic morphogenesis. New methodologies for chromosome analysis were being introduced. Donald Brown, Director of Embryology at the Carnegie Institution for Science, was the presidential guest speaker. His topic was geared toward studies of genetic factors in organogenesis. As program chairman, Gary Hodgen increased the number of poster sessions and presentations on the program. He also incorporated a session in the general program which aggregating and highlighting those papers considered “The Best of the Best”.
During that time, the RSTP/RSDP grant application was being developed thanks to the extraordinary efforts by Jim Warren, Larry Longo, and Bob Jaffe, along with several other society members. An additional by-product of the SGI/AFS alliance during that year came in the form of a commitment made by the AFS (now ASRM) to support the RSDP trainees with $5,000 annually for five years.
My presidential year continues to stand out for me as a year of transition for the SGI (now SRI) from a rather formal membership and meeting format to a broader organization with less restricted meetings, a liberalized membership policy, and enhanced international impact. As a result, younger members have been encouraged to attend and participate in the meetings. Indoctrination of these potential leaders in our field into avenues for research grant acquisition is provided by their mentors.
Needless to say, I continue to remember serving as SGI president as one of the highlights of my career as well as a unique opportunity to work with outstanding colleagues in contributing to our organization’s upward trajectory.